Legislative redistricting forum is Thursday

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College hosts a public forum Thursday to discuss where Washington's new legislative and congressional district lines should be drawn.

Since May the Washington State Redistricting Commission is holding a series of similar forums statewide to gather input they will use in redrawing the boundaries of voting districts across the state.

The final public forum takes place at the Big Bend's Masto Conference Center, beginning at 6 p.m. with an open house where people can look at maps that show the state's population changes in each district and talk to map specialists about redistricting. An overview of the redistricting process begins at 6:30, and commissioners hear public comments shortly after.

"Washington is one of the few states that has opted for a fair, bipartisan process in redistricting," commission chair, Lura Powell stated. "Our laws help to ensure that redistricting is just, but the only way for fairness to happen in reality is if people weigh-in and give us their thoughts and suggestions for what the districts should look like in the end."

Public input becomes all the more critical this year Powell said, as Washington gains another seat in Congress, requiring the formation of a 10th Congressional district. The five-member Redistricting Commission has the rest of 2011 to set the new lines for the 10 congressional and 49 legislative districts.

Washington grew by more than 14 percent in the past decade, and nearly all the districts will likely need to gain or lose population to meet the legal redistricting requirements.

Several factors play a part in where the boundaries may be drawn. Each district must have a nearly equal number of people, district boundaries should encompass land areas that adjoin one another and are as compact as possible and district boundaries need to follow local political subdivisions and areas where people share a common interest, such as race or ethnicity as closely as possible.

Washington voters established the Washington State Redistricting Commission in 1983 to ensure voting boundaries are established through a fair and bipartisan process. The commission includes two Democrats and two Republicans as voting members and a non-voting, nonpartisan chair. Democratic appointees to the commission are Tim Ceis, Seattle, and Dean Foster, Olympia. Republican members are former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, Bellevue, and Tom Huff, Gig Harbor. Lura Powell, from Richland, serves as the commission chair.

All public forums are broadcast online as they occur. People who are unable to join the July 14 forum in person can participate via interactive webcast. Visit the Commission's website at www.redistricting.wa.gov and click on the "Attend by webcast" link or the "Get Involved" tab.

If you plan to attend a forum and need auxiliary aids or services, including language interpretation, contact Heather Boe at 360-786-0770, or email heather.boe@redistricting.wa.gov.