By Charlie Bermant
Peninsula Daily News
and news sources
PORT TOWNSEND — The Washington State Redistricting Commission put out two new legislative maps Friday, and the one for the southern and western part of the state would keep Port Townsend and other East Jefferson County communities within the legislative district that includes Clallam County.
“I can’t say what will happen with the final vote, but it appears that Port Townsend will stay in the 24th District,” Tom Huff of Gig Harbor, a Republican member of the redistricting commission, said Friday.
The four-member commission is redrawing the state’s 49 legislative districts and 10 congressional districts to equalize population in the wake of the 2010 Census and must send completed proposals to the Legislature for technical changes by Jan. 1.
Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, a Republican, had proposed moving Port Townsend from the 24th Legislative District — which also includes Clallam County and a portion of Grays Harbor County — to the 23rd District, which includes Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap County.
Gorton said he advocated the move because he felt that Port Townsend had more in common with Bainbridge Island than the western part of Jefferson and Clallam counties.
But the plan — favored by the Republicans, with the two Democrats favoring keeping Port Townsend in the 24th — was opposed by legislators in both districts as well as many other elected officials.
The revised plans presented Friday in Olympia were the product of the four commissioners splitting into bipartisan subcommittees to refine the plans.
Gorton and former Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis worked on the plan for Kings County and the area north, while Huff and Democrat Dean Foster of Olympia addressed the southern and western parts of the state.
Foster said it made the most sense to leave Port Townsend in the 24th District and make any necessary changes in rural parts of Grays Harbor County.
Under the new proposal, the only city to change districts would be Montesano, which would move into the 19th District, he said.
No current 24th District representatives would change districts due to the plan, since Sen. Jim Hargrove lives in Hoquiam while Reps. Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege live in Sequim.
Five incumbents in other districts would be displaced: Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia; Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham; Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton; Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama; and Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest.
Friday’s bipartisan maps still must be reconciled with each other, and each will be tinkered with more, commission members said.
A big question to be answered before the end of the year is where the new 10th Congressional District will be located.
Washington is gaining a seat in Congress because of population growth.
One proposal fielded would end Rep. Norm Dicks’ 6th Congressional District representation of the North Olympic Peninsula.
The commission has five members, including two Republicans and two Democrats that have voting rights. Three of the four must agree on final plans.
The commission agreed to meet on an expedited schedule next week – including Tuesday at 1 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m., Thursday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.
This week, the commissioners will begin to address the eastern part of the state and congressional boundaries.
For more information on the Washington State Redistricting Commission, visit www.redistricting.wa.gov.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
The Olympian contributed to this report.