Bellevue moves to congressional district with South Seattle and Tacoma
Published 1:15 pm Thursday, December 29, 2011
Bellevue and Tacoma don’t have a lot in common, but they will likely share a U.S. Congressional representative, according to the State Redistricting Commission’s new district boundaries.
The commission reached an agreement late Sunday night that rearranged the state’s 49 legislative districts and 10 congressional districts to evenly distribute population. The agreement came only hours before an 11:59 p.m. deadline in which the task would have been handed off to the State Supreme Court.
Under the plans, Bellevue, Mercer Island and Newcastle will be grouped with South Seattle communities such as Renton, Seatac, Tukwila, Federal Way and Northeast Tacoma to form the 9th District, represented by Democrat Adam Smith.
Smith, who was first elected in 1997, said in a statement he is glad that the district still features his hometown of SeaTac, and he is excited to represent this diverse district.
“Regardless of how the congressional lines have changed, I will continue to work hard, promote policies that encourage job creation and economic growth and make sure the people of the 9th Congressional District are heard and well-represented in Congress.”
The district would be the first in the state of Washington to feature a population with a majority of non-white residents. This majority-minority district was a high priority for the commission. According to the Redistricting Commission, 50.33 percent of the 9th will be minority residents.
Under the previous division, Bellevue was represented by Rep. Dave Reichert, whose 8th District moved east, and will center on Issaquah and Sammamish, Auburn and parts of Kent. Reichert will also represent Chelan and Kittitas counties.
The goal of a majority-minority district has been a controversial one throughout the redistricting process. Groups have spoke in favor of the district, saying it is the only way for minority residents to have a voice in state and national matters.
Others were frustrated at how much of a role race was playing in the redistricting process. And some didn’t want to see cities such as Medina move up into a rural 1st District that stretches north to Canada.
“I am frustrated that the commission is proposing to divide the Eastside into multiple congressional districts,” said Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington. “Medina and Clyde hill have very little in common with rural Whatcom and Skagit counties. Likewise, Sammamish and Issaquah have little in common with Chelan and Wenatchee.”