The panel tasked with dividing Spokane County into five new commissioner districts may be less than a week away from finalizing a compromise.
The group, made up of two Democrats, two Republicans and an independent chair, has clashed over the months long process on how to divide the city of Spokane, and how to handle the West Plains and the South Hill. Their compromise map, tentatively agreed to this afternoon, has two Republican districts and two Democratic districts, the southwest urban end of Spokane will likely be a swing district.
Committee members also compromised on how to stagger the new county commissioners’ terms. Each party will initially have a two-year term and a four-year term, and the swing district will be two years. Once the first election cycle is completed, all future commissioners will have four-year terms.
The committee will meet on Wednesday to finalize the map and commissioner term plan, and is scheduled to adopt the new map Thursday. If they do not adopt a map by October 23, the state's redistricting committee will take over.
