New electoral boundaries pending

To The Eagle,

The Washington State Redistricting Commission has released the preliminary maps for new electoral district boundaries. There are five commissioners: two picked by Democratic state legislators, two picked by Republican state legislators and a non-voting independent chair.

The Grays River Grange has examined the four maps regarding the proposed boundaries for the 19th Legislative District. We considered geography and also applied results from various elections in 2008 and 2010 to obtain a picture of partisan composition.

The two Democratic commissioners, with their respective maps, have kept the shape of the 19th very similar to the current boundaries. Precinct partisan voting data shows over 53 percent of voters tending to support Democratic candidates with both maps.

The commissioner representing State House Republicans is proposing the 19th start at the western Wahkiakum county line, then covering upriver into southeast Cowlitz County. This proposal also stretches into the Cascade foothills including all of eastern Lewis County. A precinct partisan voting analysis shows over 52 percent of voters tending to support GOP candidates.

Former US Senator Slade Gorton is the commissioner representing the State Senate GOP. His map proposal includes southern Pacific County, moving east through Willapa Valley and following the Columbia into southeast Cowlitz County. The partisan voting data is a virtual 50/50 split.

Grays River Grange members are supporting Sen. Gorton’s map for the 19th LD. We find this map a good balance between geography and partisan competition. The period for public comment on the maps is soon ending and we urge citizens of Wahkiakum County to write the commission to support Sen. Gorton’s map for the 19th LD.

To see the maps themselves, more information on Washington redistricting is available at http://www.redistricting.wa.gov.

Krist Novoselic

Grays River Grange #124