In our view: Redrawing Districts

The Columbian
August 20, 2008

Because growth occurs at irregular rates around Clark County, and because legislative districts are redrawn only once a decade, representational trends sometimes get a little out of whack. But only a little, and, thankfully, a solution arrives soon after every new U.S. Census report. 

Even more thankfully, our state is one of just five (along with Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho and New Jersey) that redistrict political districts properly: through independent, bipartisan commissions. In other states - notably Oregon and California, and in one of the worst cases, Texas - redistricting is done by politicians. And we all know what that means: The majority party (they're both equally guilty) uses redistricting to steamroll the minority party, redrawing districts that look like spaghetti splatters on a wall, all to fortify the strength of incumbents and the party in power. Dissident and minority-party politicians are essentially muzzled for up to a decade. 

Not here, though. Our state's biggest problems are mild discrepancies that typically develop in the representation patterns. As Kathie Durbin reported in Tuesday's Columbian, there has been more growth in the 18th legislative district (Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, La Center, rural north Clark County and most of Cowlitz County) since the last redistricting in 2002 than there has been in the 49th (most of Vancouver and Hazel Dell), the 17th (east Vancouver and unincorporated urban areas toward Battle Ground) or the 15th (which includes a small corner of southeast Clark County). 

Redistricting is done according to population rather than by number of registered voters (good move; people who don't register to vote deserve representation, too), but the difference in growth rates has seen the number of registered voters grow by 19.7 percent in the 18th district, yet just by 9.2 percent in the 49th. And now the 18th has about 85,000 registered voters to about 59,400 in the 49th. 

The 17th's number of registered voters has grown by 16.1 percent to about 68,500. (Similar figures are not available in the 15th). 

Clearly, some legislators represent more people than other lawmakers, but as county elections manager Tim Likness says, "Everyone gets to vote for one senator and two representatives." And as voters authorized two decades ago, balance will be restored in time for the 2012 election. 

Many factors make our state's redistricting plan superior to most states'. Instead of politicians haggling nonstop about gerrymandering charges, our Redistricting Commission meets after the U.S. Census report, performs its task relatively quickly, then disbands. Neither the governor nor the Legislature can reject the commission's plan, and the Legislature cannot amend more than 2 percent of any district. 

The redistricting rules are clear. District populations must be equal, lines should be drawn to coincide with other political lines when possible, districts should be convenient and contiguous and, most importantly, plans must not be drawn to purposely favor any party. 

What a great system. By contrast, redistricting remains a constant source of contention and divisiveness in Oregon and California as politicians attempt to maximize political gain with legislative efforts to redistrict. And Texas' system is still being thrashed out in battle grounds as lofty as the U.S. Supreme Court, with plans designed by Tom DeLay and other powerful figures. Fortunately, our state got it right. Many factors make our state's redistricting plan superior.