They determine school or college policy. They oversee port operations, help make sure firefighters and their equipment can respond, that water flows, or potholes are occasionally filled.

These are the mostly low-profile special service districts, many of whose board members are up for election in May – but must file for office by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 18.

Special service districts elect board members not in the busy November election cycle where they can get lost in the shuffle of big-name politicians or issues, but in off-year May elections where voters can focus on the small districts that provide many local services.

In Lincoln County, the elections range from three members of the Lincoln County School District and Oregon Coast Community College boards, to the Port of Alsea, three struggling fire districts, and small water and road districts serving rural areas.

But no matter how big or small the district, there is generally more work involved than just attending a monthly meeting or two. Sometimes a board has to fire and hire a chief executive, negotiate with unions, and ask voters to increase taxes.

Or, in the year of a pandemic, help decide when schools close and open.

The best board members come without an agenda, other than to help guide administrators and help set policy. It can be hard detailed work, but also and rewarding.

Most times well-established districts run relatively well and with little controversy, such as the community college district or Port of Alsea. Other times, like in the case of the Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue District, three candidates are running to oust current board members over their dissatisfaction over board and district operations, including oversight of its recently departed fire chief.

The city of Waldport is also conducting a special election to fill the remainder of the City Council seat of Mark Campbell, who was killed during an attempted burglary in December.

There are four local option levies on the May ballot, including a five-year levy for the Seal Rock Fire District.

For large districts such as schools or the college, board positions are elected by geographic zones. For all others, you just have to live in the district and fill out a form from the county clerk’s office.

Instructions on how to file are available on the elections website for the Lincoln County clerk. Information is also available at individual district offices.

The mail election is May 18. If a board seat is not filled via an election, then a majority of the service district board can fill it by appointment. A list of districts and positions open is available on the county clerk’s website.

Below is a list of major districts and their board openings in south Lincoln County:

Oregon Coast Community College: Three of five zoned board seats up for election; two people have filed;
Lincoln County School District: Three of five zoned board seats; five people have filed, creating at least two contested races, including the zone covering south Lincoln County, Waldport and Yachats;
Port of Alsea: Three of five board seats; two people have filed;
Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue District: Three of five board seats; five people have filed, including two incumbents so far, creating at least two contested races;
Seal Rock Fire District: Three of five board seats; four people have filed for two of the seats, creating contested races; no one has yet filed for the third open seat; 5-year local option tax levy of 80 cents per $1,000 assessed property value;
Yachats Rural Fire Protection District: Four of five seats up for election; two incumbents have filed;
Southwest Lincoln County Water District: Three of five board seats; one person has filed;
City of Waldport: Unexpired term of Mark Campbell; the council appointed Rick Booth to the seat in January after he finished fourth in a November election for three council seats.