Final plan expands number of commissioners
CHENEY – The West Plains may have stronger representation in county government under a final redistricting plan developed by the Spokane County Independent Redistricting Committee.
On Oct. 21, the commission approved a plan that would replace the current three commissioner districts with five districts.
The plan includes keeping the cities of Cheney, Medical Lake and Airway Heights contained within a single district.
Under the plan, starting next year, each district would elect its own commissioner, rather than casting ballots for commissioners county-wide.
The new districts would be District No. 1, west-central Spokane; District No. 2,east-central Spokane; District No. 3, north Spokane County; District No. 4, southeast Spokane County; and District No. 5, west Spokane County.
District Nos. 1, 3 and 5 would be on an initial 2-year election cycle, under the plan. District Nos. 2 and 4 would be on 4-year cycles.
Districts Nos. 1 and 2 would compromise large swaths of the city of Spokane.
District No. 1 has a current population of 107,089 and District No. 2 has a population of 107,881, the commission reported.
Commission data shows both districts would likely be Democrat strongholds in largely Republican country.
Based on the 2020 election, District No. 1 is projected to be 55.6% Democrat and District No. 2 is at 56.0% Democrat.
Districts Nos. 1 and 2 have the highest minority populations at 22.05% and 19.10%, respectively.
District No. 3 would encompass much of the northern area of Spokane Valley-Liberty Lake areas, as well as Newman Lake. The population of the proposed district is 107,883 residents, the commission reported.
The district would be 61.4% Republican, based on 2020 election returns. It will also be 86.26% white.
District No. 4 would cover some southern portions of the Spokane Valley-Liberty Lake areas, and the rural communities of Freeman, Rockford, Spangle, ,Fairfield and Latah, among other rural communities.
Approximately 107,848 residents live in the district, the commission reported, noting it would be 59.2% Republican.
The district would have a 13.79% minority population, demographics show.
District No. 5 would contain the entire West Plains, including Cheney, Airway Heights and Medical Lake. The district will also include areas of southern and northwestern Spokane.
The West Plains district is the largest, population-wise, with 108, 638 residents, according to the commission.
It will also lean Republican — demographics released by the commission show the district would be 51.5% Republican.
The West Plains district would be 81.21% white, demographics show.
Under the proposal, voters would elect new commissioners in those districts in November 2022. Commissioners would take their seats in 2023.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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