As the Charlotte sprawl begins to threaten Rowan, voters can pick among three candidates for a seat on the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.

The winner in the non-partisan election gets a four-year term to help guide policies to protect soil and water.

Incumbent Ed Church, a retired salesman from Salisbury, is facing one of his stiffest challenges ever.

Bruce Miller, a China Grove farmer and retired agriculture teacher, wants the job, which pays no salary. Miller would use the position to launch a campaign to educate the county’s youth about the value of soil and water and the need to protect both.

The third candidate, 75-year-old Donald Beaver of Spencer, cites his love of the outdoors and his love of fishing as his reasons for running for the office.

Church, 85, has served 16 years on the Board of Supervisors. The somewhat eccentric Church often displays his Boy Scout jacket, which is covered in badges and patches. He has a 45-year history with Scouting.

One of the patches he is particularly proud of is the one for soil and water conservation. Church designed the patch, and it was adopted statewide.

Church says he has missed only one meeting of the board since he has been on it. But he complains that the other four members of the board won’t let him do anything anymore.

Miller grew up on a farm near China Grove. He has degrees in agriculture fromN.C. State University and is an active member of several agriculture-related organizations on the local and state levels.

Miller is making his first try for public office. He sees increasing pressure from developers looking for places for subdivisions or other projects.

While the Soil and Water Conservation District has little direct control over development, Miller wants to try to protect the county’s environment.

“I have a realistic view of human needs vs. environmental impact,” said Miller. “I’m not a tree hugger but a conservationist and a naturalist.”

Beaver admits he knows little about the role of the Soil and Water Conservation District.

During a lifetime of fishing, though, Beaver said he’s seen a lot of water, including some that didn’t look too good. He’s concerned about what gets into the streams, including chemicals running off farmland.