PORT TOWNSEND — A proposal in Olympia to remove part of East Jefferson County from the 24th Legislative District and put it in a Kitsap County district would not dilute Port Townsend’s political influence, according to the idea’s sponsor, former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton.
“You have the same amount of people so their influence will be the same whichever way you go,” said Gorton, who is a Republican member of the state’s redistricting commission that is fashioning new congressional and legislative district boundaries across the state to reflect the 2010 Census.
Gorton said political makeup isn’t the motivator behind the creation of new legislative districts; he is more concerned with creating districts of equal population and compatible geographical areas.
He said the commission is not changing the number of legislative districts but is increasing the population of each to 137,235 people, up from 120,288 in 2001.
Gorton said the advantage in his plan to slice Port Townsend, Marrowstone and Indian islands, the Tri-Area and Port Ludlow and place them in the 23rd District is that Grays Harbor County could remain predominantly in one legislative district.
About a third of the Grays Harbor County population is now in the 24th District, which covers all of Jefferson and Clallam counties.
East, west different
Splitting up Jefferson County is justified because the western and eastern portions are so different, Gorton said.
“Port Townsend has a lot more in common with the 23rd District than it does with the west,” he said.
State Highway 104 — the east-west thoroughfare connecting U.S. Highway 101 with the Hood Canal Bridge — provides the southern boundary for Gorton’s proposal.
The boundary turns north at the boundary of the Chimacum School District and then heads west to where it corresponds with Discovery Bay.
The western, northern and eastern borders of the proposed 23rd District realignment are water-bound.
Gorton’s redistricting plan represents the Republican Party’s goals and is one of two that will be placed before the Legislature for final approval.
In addition to Gorton, commission members are former Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis, Washington Retail Association founder Tom Huff and former House Chief Clerk Dean Foster.
Lura Powell of Richmond, former director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is the fifth member, and as the nonpartisan appointee is the redistricting commission chair.
‘Up for negotiation’
Gorton said any aspect of his redistricting plan was “up for negotiation” and it can’t be assumed that any action would come to fruition.
Negotiations will consider the entire state and not consist of a “trade” of territory between one commissioner’s choice and another’s, he said.
Democratic Party members oppose dividing up the current 24th District, saying it would decrease Port Townsend’s political clout in ferry issues in particular.
One of three 24th District lawmakers, Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, said Gorton’s proposal “doesn’t have anything to do with good government, good governance or good representation.”
Tharinger, who shares the district with fellow Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, said Gorton’s proposal is overly political.
“It doesn’t work geographically or politically for the people on the Peninsula,” Tharinger said.
“There are a lot of transportation issues having to do with the Hood Canal Bridge that aren’t Bainbridge Island issues.”
The redistricting issue is expected to be decided after the Legislature convenes in special session after Thanksgiving.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.