WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: New district maps keep things competitive

Jessie Stensland reports:

Under newly redistricted maps, Whidbey Island will remain in the state’s most politically competitive legislative district as well as a slightly more competitive congressional district.

Under the new maps, Island County remains in a geographically larger Congressional District 2 and a mostly unchanged Legislative District 10.

US Congressional District 2 will expand to include all of Whatcom and Skagit counties while still encompassing all of Island County and a portion of Snohomish County.

State Legislative District 10 will retain the entirety of Island County and while it gains portions of rural Fidalgo Island and parts of Snohomish County, it loses a portion of Mount Vernon.

They Said It:

US Representative Rick Larsen he knows the communities and how to represent them, though he will have some catching up to do if he’s reelected.

Larsen explained that the district will become slightly less Democratic district under the new maps, going from 63% Democratic voters to 58%. While it’s still a solidly Democratic district, Larsen said he hopes his political success is about more than partisan politics.

“It’s about whether I’ve been responsive to the needs of people in my district, he said”

Larsen said people who make claims about gerrymandering need to first take a good look at the maps. The ragged district edges in Shohomish County, he pointed out, are simply the boundaries of the city of Everett.

State Senator Ron Muzzall said the redrawn 10th remains evenly divided between Democrats and Republican voters.

State Representative Dave Paul said there is a benefit to living in a competitive district.

“It compels representatives to look at both sides of issues,” he said. “If you don’t work hard and listen to your community, you won’t be re-elected.”