Latest political proposal splits Issaquah into suburban, rural districts
December 20, 2011
Washington State Redistricting Commission members Tim Ceis and Slade Gorton proposed a 41st Legislative District stretching from Mercer Island to Sammamish. Contributed
The latest proposal to redraw Washington’s political map shifts more Issaquah neighborhoods into a suburban legislative district.
In a plan unveiled Dec. 16, Washington State Redistricting Commission members Tim Ceis and Slade Gorton proposed a 41st Legislative District stretching from Mercer Island to Sammamish. The proposal encompasses North Issaquah, Newcastle and most Bellevue neighborhoods.
The proposed map puts the remaining Issaquah neighborhoods in the 5th Legislative District — a more rural area stretched from Issaquah to Snoqualmie Pass.
Under a legislative map adopted a decade ago, Issaquah is split between the 41st and 5th districts at 12th Avenue Northwest.
South Cove and other neighborhoods along Lake Sammamish fall inside the 48th Legislative District. The proposal from Ceis and Gorton moves the 48th District north to encompass Bellevue and Redmond.
Latest political proposal splits Issaquah into suburban, rural districts
December 16, 2011
NEW — 4:15 p.m. Dec. 16, 2011
The latest proposal to redraw Washington’s political map shifts more Issaquah neighborhoods into a suburban legislative district.
In a plan unveiled Friday, Washington State Redistricting Commission members Tim Ceis and Slade Gorton proposed a 41st Legislative District stretched from Mercer Island to Sammamish. The proposal encompasses North Issaquah, Newcastle and most Bellevue neighborhoods.
The proposed map puts the remaining Issaquah neighborhoods in the 5th Legislative District — a more rural area stretched from Issaquah to Snoqualmie Pass.
Under a legislative map adopted a decade ago, Issaquah is split between the 41st and 5th districts at 12th Avenue Northwest.
State redistricting panel could reshape Issaquah’s political map
November 1, 2011
Washington’s political map is due to undergo a monumental change next year.
Issaquah may shift into a reshaped legislative district as a result. Or maybe not.
Democrats on the state panel responsible for redrawing the political map recommended for a redrawn 41st Legislative District to absorb all of Issaquah. Meanwhile, Republicans on the Washington State Redistricting Commission said most of the city should remain in the neighboring 5th Legislative District.
Commissioners released the proposed maps — and narrowed the number of possibilities for legislative districts — Oct. 14.
Under a legislative map adopted a decade ago, Issaquah is split between the 41st and 5th districts at 12th Avenue Northwest. South Cove and other neighborhoods along Lake Sammamish fall inside the 48th Legislative District.
The latest proposals from the redistricting commission remove the 48th District from the Issaquah equation. Instead, Democrats said the city should join Mercer Island, Newcastle and a portion of Bellevue in a suburban 41st District.
Latest political maps offer Issaquah similar, different options from status quo
October 16, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 16, 2011
Washington’s political map is due to undergo a monumental change next year.
Issaquah may shift into a reshaped legislative district as a result. Or maybe not.
Democrats on the state panel responsible for redrawing the political map recommended for a redrawn 41st Legislative District to absorb all of Issaquah. Meanwhile, Republicans on the Washington State Redistricting Commission said most of the city should remain in the neighboring 5th Legislative District.
Commissioners released the proposed maps Oct. 14. The proposals narrowed the number of possibilities for legislative districts.
Redrawn maps could shift Issaquah congressional, legislative districts
September 20, 2011
Issaquah could shift into a redrawn congressional district under plans from the panel responsible for redrawing Washington’s political map.
The bipartisan Washington State Redistricting Commission unveiled four proposals — one from each commissioner — Sept. 13 to reshape the state’s congressional districts. The task for commissioners is made more complicated by the addition of a 10th district to account for population growth since 2000.
The maps serve as a starting point as commissioners negotiate the boundaries for the 2012 elections. If the commission fails to create a final map by Jan. 1, then the state Supreme Court is responsible for redrawing the districts.
Issaquah, long inside 8th Congressional District boundaries, could shift into the 1st Congressional District as commissioners assemble districts using data from the 2010 Census.
Press Editorial
September 20, 2011
Redistricting matters to Issaquah area
Washington is in the midst of a once-a-decade chance to re-evaluate the lines on a map that create our congressional and legislative districts. Unfortunately, redistricting has become a politically partisan activity.
Please, powers-that-be, draw the lines based on logical groups of people, not on how best to achieve a legislative majority.
Logic does not divide small cities. Logic does not have a district that encompasses large portions of both sides of the Cascades. Logic does not base district boundaries on today’s representation without acknowledging that elected officials and political leanings will change dramatically over the next decade.
Redrawn political maps could shift Issaquah into different districts
September 13, 2011
NEW — 4:45 p.m. Sept. 13, 2011
Issaquah could shift into a redrawn congressional district under plans released Tuesday from the panel responsible for redrawing Washington’s political map.
The bipartisan Washington State Redistricting Commission unveiled four proposals — one from each commissioner — to reshape the state’s congressional districts. The task for commissioners is made more complicated by the addition of a 10th district to account for population growth since 2000.
Commissioners now start negotiating to set the boundaries for the 2012 election. If the commission fails to create a final map before Jan. 1, the state Supreme Court is responsible for redrawing the districts.
Residents can comment on the proposals at a series of meetings in Olympia.
State redistricting commission to unveil proposals soon
September 5, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2011
The state panel responsible for redrawing congressional and legislative districts is due to release proposals soon — and the electoral map for the Issaquah area is almost certain to change.
Washington State Redistricting Commission members, after a series of public forums, generated initial drafts for congressional and legislative districts. The commission is due to release the proposals Sept. 13 in Olympia.
Washington is in line to add a 10th congressional seat in 2012 due to population increases reflected in the 2010 Census. Most political observers expect the commission to add district on the Eastside or in the South Puget Sound region.
The change reflects the population figures released as part of the 2010 Census. The state population surged by 14.1 percent since the 2000 Census to more than 6.7 million people.
Issaquah lawmakers rank high on missed votes tally
June 14, 2011
The lawmakers representing Issaquah and the 5th Legislative District in Olympia ranked near the top for the number of missed votes during the 2011 regular and special sessions.
Read more
Legislators salvage funding for Issaquah arts programs
June 7, 2011
Shakespeare on the Green is due to return to the Issaquah Community Center next month — and the “Macbeth” performance is safe, after state legislators approved a last-minute measure to shore up funding for the King County cultural services agency, 4Culture.
In addition to Shakespeare on the Green — from the Seattle Shakespeare Co. — dollars from 4Culture fund dozens of other programs in the community. Overall, 4Culture allocated more than $50,000 to arts, cultural and heritage organizations in the Issaquah area for 2011. Some organizations, such as the Seattle Shakespeare Co., could not offer Issaquah programs without the funding.
City Arts Coordinator Amy Dukes said funding from 4Culture is important because dollars allotted through the Arts Sustained Support Program can be used for operating costs.
“That’s really hard funding to replace,” she said. “Most funders want their funding to go toward specific programming, so the fact that 4Culture gives out this funding that’s unrestricted is a huge benefit.”
Lawmakers passed the 4Culture legislation as the last bill before the special legislative session adjourned May 25.
