Process proves its worth
Published 11:43 am Monday, January 2, 2012
It shouldn’t be surprising that Washington’s redistricting process went down to the wire. It’s as political a process as one could imagine — the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative and congressional lines.
When the four-member redistricting commission finished its work Sunday night with just two hours to spare, it finished a yearlong process created by voters in 1983 that ensures as much fairness and balance as is humanly possible.
Sure, it might not be perfect. Commissioner Tom Huff complained Sunday that it was a frustrating process that could have been finished in half the time. But the current timetable did allow plenty of opportunity for public input from across the state, and ensured that both parties’ representatives had ample time to consider all options carefully.
The finished product, approved unanimously by the two Republicans and two Democrats on the commission, does create some oddities. Edmonds and Woodway, for example, were moved into the 7th Congressional District, which covers most of Seattle, as well as the very-unlike-Edmonds city of Burien. Likewise, a newly minted 1st Congressional District contains the rural areas of eastern Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, as well as the well-heeled Seattle suburbs of Medina and Clyde Hill.
Such pairings are endemic to a process that requires each district to have essentially even numbers in population, and also tries to ensure political balance. All in all, we’d say commission members negotiated a fair, rational plan.
They also set up a highly interesting, competitive race for Congress in that new 1st District. It figures to be the congressional contest to watch in Washington this year, with Republican and current Snohomish County Council member John Koster and several Democrats, including state Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens) vying to replace Democrat Jay Inslee, who is giving up the seat to run for governor.
Depending on how that race turns out, the state’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives is likely to be 6-4, in favor of the Democrats, or 5-5. That’s as it should be in a state that remains relatively independent. (Currently, the Democrats hold five seats, the Republicans four. A new district was added for this year because of state population gains)
The new legislative map represents some gains for Snohomish County, primarily by moving the 32nd District north into all of Edmonds and part of Mountlake Terrace. That’s three state legislators who will have a keener interest in the county.
Drawing political lines in a fair, evenhanded way is unheard of in many states, where it’s an exercise in unabashed gerrymandering. No so here. Once again, Washington has shown that politics and fairness don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
