Washington state’s system for decennial redistricting (based on Census figures) is not perfect. Many detractors complain that it’s built around protecting incumbents. But it was approved by voters in 1983, and here are three good things about the way political districts are drawn in our state:
It’s a lot better system than the partisan redistricting wars and legal wranglings that erupt in many other states.
It’s relatively balanced, if not nonpartisan, then at least bipartisan.
It’s coming here. The Washington State Redistricting Commission has scheduled an informational meeting and public hearing from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Hilton Vancouver Washington. The first hour will be a presentation by the commission, with the subsequent two hours devoted to public testimony.
In addition to serving as a great opportunity for citizens to express their views about redistricting, the meeting will be a rare and comprehensive civics lesson, democracy in action, where students, parents and children can see the public process unfold.
For Southwest Washington, the redistricting stakes are high as the commission redraws boundaries of Congressional and legislative districts. Even with the addition of a 10th Congressional district to the state, our 3rd Congressional District has grown so much that it must be reduced by 106,894 residents to reach the target of 672,454. Most political observers believe the northern top of the district will be excised. Losing parts of Olympia could make the 3rd — traditionally a “swing” district — more conservative. Then again, losing Centralia and Chehalis would mean farewell to largely Republican voting blocs.
At the state level, all four of Clark County’s legislative districts will see significant geographic changes. The 18th District (Camas, Washougal, Felida, Salmon Creek, Ridgefield, north Clark County and south Cowlitz County) will shrink by 16.6 percent of its residents. The 17th District (most of Vancouver east of Interstate 205) will be reduced by 9.8 percent, and the 49th District (Vancouver west of Interstate 5 and parts of Hazel Dell) will be trimmed by 1.8 percent of its residents. The 15th District (which includes a sliver of southeast Clark County) will grow by about 3 percent.
Fortunately, changes will be proposed by a philosophically balanced commission that includes two Democratic appointees, two Republican appointees and a chairwoman (Lura Powell of Tri-Cities) from the business world. Their goal is to produce by November maps with redrawn district boundaries. Approval of the plan by the governor is not required, and changes by legislators require two-thirds approval by the Legislature.
State law requires redrawn districts to be “convenient, contiguous and compact,” and the new lines must coincide with city and county boundaries whenever possible.
Compare that relatively balanced process to what’s going on in Oregon, where, like many other states, politicians are in charge of the process. And, of course, that means majority parties are empowered to steamroll their way to plans that punish political foes, with highly partisan schemes that often wind up in court.
Both parties have released redistricting maps in Oregon, with each party predictably angry about the other’s plan. If they can’t agree, the process goes to the secretary of state, a Democrat. Good luck on that, Republicans. Ultimately, Oregon’s redistricting plan could wind up in court.
We do it much better in Washington. Not flawlessly, but better. And on Thursday evening, Vancouver becomes the epicenter of that process.
