Proposition No. 1 Port of Olympia Commission

What is the statutory authority for Port of Olympia Commissioners to increase from three to five members?

Pursuant to RCW 53.12.115, a ballot proposition shall be submitted to the voters of any port district authorizing an increase in the number of port commissioners to five whenever the port commission adopts a resolution proposing the increase in number of port commissioners.  The ballot proposition shall be submitted at the next general or special election occurring sixty or more days after the resolution was adopted.  There are also provisions for a petition signed by voters that would bring a ballot proposition forward, but that did not occur in this situation.

Why did the Port of Olympia Commissioners propose this expansion to the voters?

Since the Commission’s formation nearly one hundred years ago, the county population has grown substantially.  The Port Commission has determined that this proposition is necessary to maintain effective and responsive representation of the people of Thurston County and expansion is expected to increase diversity of perspectives.

How much will this cost the taxpayers?

Estimated costs for an expanded Commission include:

• A one-time cost of approximately $381,000
• Ongoing annual costs of approximately $145,000
• Election costs estimated at $200,000 per election cycle

How will the new districts be created?

Thurston County will be divided into five commissioner districts through the Redistricting Commission process.  Each district will, as close as possible:

1.  Have one-fifth of the population of the county,
2.  Maintain the current commissioners in their elected districts,
3.  Follow precinct lines,
4.  Maintain communities of mutual interest,
5.  Be as compact and contiguous as possible, and
6.  Not be gerrymandered (manipulated to favor one party or class).

When will the new commissioners be elected to the Port District?

Port commissioners serve a four-year term.  The two newly created positions will be voted on during the November general election in 2023.  Since 2023 is an odd-numbered year, the additional commissioner elected who received the highest number of votes shall be elected to a four-year term of office and the other commissioner elected shall be elected to a two-year term of office.

What is the Redistricting Committee?

Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between Thurston County and the Port of Olympia, the redistricting committee is made up of the chair of the Port Commission (voting member), chair of the Board of County Commissioners (voting member), and the Thurston County Auditor (non-voting member).  The committee is supported by county and port staff including the county manager, county Information Technology department and elections staff, and the Port of Olympia’s executive director.