US House Redistricting: Washington

[ottermax]

I can see the rationale behind putting the Eastside suburbs with Kittitas and Chelan, but when it comes down to it, there are huge differences in the bulk of the populations represented. I think the most significant problem is Chelan, rather than Kittitas. At least Kittitas has a university and the mountain towns that are fairly well linked to the west side, but Wenatchee in Chelan is not very easily reached and I think it's unusual splitting Wenatchee and E. Wenatchee.

The Cascades really do present quite a problem... but I think there will be a creative solution. There may need to be two cross mountain districts.

[ottermax]

Okay so maybe it makes sense to add Kittitas County to a Western district, but you'd still need population from other places like Chelan and Douglas County, which are even more of a stretch in terms of connections with Western Washington. I think it's mostly a culture thing. There are a few people who have their summer homes in Chelan or Kittitas County, but the vast majority of Eastsiders are not that wealthy.... The other thing is that most of the people who actually vote in Kittitas and Chelan don't particularly have much in common with the people who vacation there.

[ottermax]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhalem,_Washington

route 20 is only open in the summer....