September 3, 2021
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Pierce County Districting Committee is seeking applicants interested in being selected as a Districting Master. The Districting Master should be qualified by education, training, and experience to draw a redistricting plan consistent with 2020 Census data. The final plan will consist of detailed maps, legal descriptions of the seven county council districts, and be compatible with ESRI Geodatabase format. Specifics of the responsibilities and scope of work for the Districting Master, as directed by the Pierce County Charter, are as follows:
Section 4.40 -- District Boundaries
The boundaries of each district shall correspond as nearly as practicable with the boundaries of election precincts and shall be drawn to produce districts with compact and contiguous territory, composed of geographic units and natural communities, which are approximately equal in population.
Section 4.50 -- Districting Committee
Within 60 days after the 1980, and each succeeding Federal census is published, a 5-member districting committee shall be appointed. The Council shall appoint four persons to the Committee, two from each major political party, from a list of five submitted by the party's central committee, the four to appoint the fifth, who shall serve as the Chair. Members of the Districting Committee shall serve without salary, but shall be compensated for expenses. The Districting Committee shall, within 30 days of its appointment, meet and appoint a Districting Master who shall be qualified by education, training, and experience to draw a redistricting plan. If a Districting Committee is unable to agree upon the appointment of a Districting Master within 30 days, the Council shall appoint a Districting master within 30 days thereafter.
Section 4.60 -- Districting Plan
Within two months after appointment, the Districting Master shall draw a districting plan for the County which shall be submitted to the Committee for adoption. The Districting Committee shall adopt the districting plan within 15 days as submitted, or as amended by four affirmative votes of the committee members. If the districting plan is neither adopted nor modified within 15 days after submission, the plan shall be deemed adopted. The plan, upon adoption, shall be filed with the filing officer by the Districting Committee. The plan shall become effective upon filing.
If interested submit your application to the Pierce County Districting Committee, Attn: Linda Medley, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 1046, Tacoma, WA 98402-2176, or by email to [email protected]. Applications should include projected costs and are to be received no later than Thursday, September 16, 2021 by 3 p.m. Section 4.50 of the Pierce County Charter states the Districting Committee shall appoint a Districting Master within 30 days.
If you have questions regarding the position please contact Susan Long, Chief Counsel, Pierce County Council, (253) 798-6068, [email protected], or Linda Medley, Committee Clerk at (253) 798-3647, [email protected] or visit PierceCountyWa.Gov/Council.
View the 2020 District Master scope of work.