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.
State panel tackles congressional, legislative districts
January 25, 2011
The process to reset the state’s legislative and congressional district started Jan. 18, after the members of the Washington State Redistricting Commission took office.
The bipartisan commission includes four voting members: Democrats Tim Ceis, a former Seattle deputy mayor; and Dean Foster, a former chief clerk for the state House of Representatives; and Republicans Slade Gorton, a former U.S. senator, and Tom Huff, a former state budget chairman.
The commission must select a fifth member to serve as a nonvoting chairperson.
Washington is in line to add a 10th congressional seat in 2012. Most political observers expect the district to be created 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 has swelled by 14.1 percent, since the 2000 Census, to 6,724,540 people.
Panel prepares to redraw state’s legislative map
January 18, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 18, 2011
The process to reset the state’s legislative and congressional district starts Tuesday, as the members of the Washington State Redistricting Commission take office.
The bipartisan commission includes four voting members: Democrats Tim Ceis, a former Seattle deputy mayor, and Dean Foster, a former chief clerk for the state House of Representatives, and Republicans Slade Gorton, a former U.S. senator, and Tom Huff, a former state budget chairman.
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen is scheduled to swear in the redistricting commission members at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The commission then selects a fifth member to serve as a nonvoting chairperson.
Dino Rossi strives to be comeback kid in Senate race
September 14, 2010
Former Issaquah legislator returns after dual losses
The story is classic Dino Rossi: a daunting policy issue framed as a kitchen table discussion.
Dino Rossi
Not long before the Sammamish resident and GOP standard-bearer decided to run for the U.S. Senate, son Jake had a question about the national debt.
“My 16-year-old asked me, ‘How much do I owe?’ Sixteen-year-olds shouldn’t be asking questions like that,” Dino Rossi recalled. “They should be asking, ‘Can I have the car keys? And get out the money while you’re giving me the car keys.’”
