SPOKANE REDISTRICTING: Plans for redrawing Spokane County Commissioner Districts are moving forward.
Plans for redrawing Spokane County Commissioner Districts are moving forward, and the Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) has eliminated two of its four proposed maps from consideration.
IRC members are working with maps C and D, and will make changes based on community input. IRC Chair Elaine Couture asked the group to give closer consideration to the community map created by the Community Coalition for Creating 5 Fair, Equitable Spokane County Commissioner Districts. IRC members plan to have two revised maps ready for consideration at the IRC’s next meeting on Oct. 5.
As the options stand, both maps present problems. Map C separates Liberty Lake from its near neighbor, Spokane Valley. Instead, Liberty Lake is in the same district as Mead, Elk, and Deer Park, communities it is not in close proximity to. Map C also groups Cheney with the south county, rather than with other West Plains communities.
The community map groups West Plains cities into one district, and divides Spokane Valley along the logical, existing precinct lines through the city.
Map D splits the City of Spokane primarily between two districts, with small slivers of the city parsed out to two other districts. Concentrating the city into two of the county’s five districts puts city residents at a disadvantage when it comes to countywide decisions, even though they are often most heavily impacted. For example, 75% of the County's budget is spent on the criminal justice system, whose courts and jail are within the city limits.
In contrast, the community map divides the city among three districts that extend into unincorporated areas, using existing natural boundaries and transportation corridors that already act as dividing lines.
In south Spokane County, map D uses Highway 195 to divide districts, which splits the Liberty School District between two commissioner districts and groups part of south Spokane County with the West Plains. Communities in south Spokane County should be represented by the same commissioner district, as they are in the community map.
There’s still time to make your voice heard. Let the committee know you favor the community map and the values it represents. Thursday, Oct. 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. is the IRC’s next public hearing, and Tuesday, Oct. 12 is the deadline to submit comments.
You can attend the Oct. 7 meeting via Zoom or in person at Northern Quest Casino in the Kalispel Ballroom, 100 N Hayford Road, Airway Heights (masks required). To submit comments by Oct. 12, email info@redistrictspokaneco.com, use the IRC’s online comment form, or send by mail to PO Box 31508, Spokane, WA, 99223.