Bleiweis Seeks Third Term in Mecklenburg Conservation Race

Mecklenburg County voters will choose two supervisors for the Soil and Water Conservation District in a nonpartisan election on November 3. Two seats are open, and voters may select up to two candidates from the ballot.

Barbara Bleiweis, the current district chair and a 69-year-old Democrat, is running for a third term. She has served on the board since 2017, filling an unexpired term before being elected in 2018. Bleiweis states she serves to conserve natural resources and support the public good, with a specific focus on water quality and agricultural sustainability.

Since taking office, Bleiweis has expanded the district's financial reach and policy scope. The district operates as an independent government entity funded by stormwater fees rather than the county general fund. She reports securing $400,000 in grant funding to support partnership outreach and improve services for underrepresented communities. These efforts led to the creation of the Conservation For Everyone program, which is currently in the early stages of translating materials into Spanish and adapting education tools for non-verbal individuals.

A major financial milestone involved Bleiweis's role in writing a grant application for a $12 million state project. This funding supports a biochar solution for agricultural land, initially focused on Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The project aims to improve stormwater quality and remediate contaminated streams and soils across the state.

Bleiweis also secured a unanimous commitment from the Board of County Commissioners to support local farms. This agreement led to the development of a farmland preservation plan and the creation of an Agriculture Advisory Board. Local farmers now advise the commissioners on issues impacting the agricultural sector. Bleiweis was appointed by Governor Josh Stein in 2025 to the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Commission, where she manages the budget for statewide conservation programs.

The other candidate listed for the race is Michael Betterly, a 47-year-old Democrat and chief financial officer at Organic Mechanics Soil Company. Betterly has no previous elected office experience. The race is nonpartisan, so party affiliations will not appear on the ballot. Nancy Carter, a current board member, is not running for reelection.

The district provides technical assistance to landowners, including help with water drainage and weed identification. Bleiweis also serves on the Charlotte Water Advisory Committee and the City of Charlotte Data Center Task Force, where she works with neighborhoods and businesses to recommend policies on data center development.