John Shepard will get a new term as a commissioner for the board of Diking District 1.

Shepard, currently an incumbent commissioner on the three-member diking board, was the only person to file with the county elections department to run for his seat in the February election.

Since no other candidates filed for the post, there will not be an election and Shepard will retain his seat automatically, Island County Deputy Auditor Michele Reagan said Monday. If more than one candidate would have filed for the post, an election would have been held Feb. 2.

The position carries a six-year term.

Shepard was appointed by county commissioners to fill the unexpired term of longtime commissioner Bob Kohlwes after Kohlwes resigned in 2008. Shepard has been a lone voice on the diking board, and has been one of the vocal critics of the diking district’s controversial $430,000 pump project.