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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2018)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018 This year’s state elections could shape future for Congress as 22 additional U.S. House seats in 2016 over what would have been expected JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. based on their average vote — Buoyed by a string of share in congressional dis- electoral victories during tricts across the country. That President Donald Trump’s helped provide the GOP with first year in office, Dem- a comfortable majority — ocrats will be waging a instead of a slim one — over renewed battle to wrest con- Democrats. While Democrats also trol of Congress from Repub- have drawn congressio- licans this year. Yet the contests with the nal districts to their advan- greatest long-term conse- tage, the AP’s analysis found quences for Congress could nearly three times as many be elsewhere on the ballot — states with Republican-tilted for governors and state leg- House districts among the islators who will shape the two dozen most populated boundaries of congressio- states that determine the vast nal districts for the decade to majority of Congress. “There is an epidemic of come. Voters in two-thirds of the gerrymandering,” said Wash- states will be electing gover- ington Gov. Jay Inslee, who nors to new four-year terms recently took over as chair- in 2018. Of those, 26 will man of the Democratic Gov- be vested with the power to ernors Association, “and the approve or reject congressio- best way to cure it is to elect nal maps that will be redrawn some Democratic governors after the 2020 Census. so at least there is a person at Although most of the the seat of the table.” A total of 36 governor’s thousands of state lawmak- ers responsible for races are on the bal- lot next year, though redistricting will be two of those are to chosen in 2020, a fill out two-year total of 766 will be terms. elected to four-year The Democratic terms in nearly two Governors Asso- dozen states where ciation is targeting they will play a role races in eight states in approving con- Jay gressional maps. — Colorado, Flor- Inslee ida, Maine, Michi- Winning a gov- ernorship ensures a politi- gan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsyl- cal party has at least some vania and Wisconsin — that say in redistricting. Match- it believes could nearly wipe ing a governor with a leg- out the GOP congressio- islature led by the same nal advantage if Democratic party — as Republicans governors were able to forge have done in three times as favorable maps. Republicans are tar- many states as Democrats — gives a party the potential to geting many of the same draw favorable districts that states while also hoping to could cement its power for a flip Democratic governor- ships in Minnesota and else- decade. This year is “enormously where, and protect their turf consequential for redistrict- in Arkansas, South Carolina ing,” said Justin Levitt, a pro- and Texas. fessor at Loyola Law School “The majority of the in Los Angeles who tracks House of Representatives is redistricting nationwide. absolutely on the line,” said “The 2018 elections will in Jon Thompson, a spokes- some cases decide — and in man for the Republican the rest of the cases, tee up — Governors Association. “If who is actually in charge of Republicans want to hold on to the House in this next drawing the lines in 2020.” During the last redistrict- decade, governors’ races are ing, Republicans who swept immensely important.” The GOP will be defend- into control of numerous governorships and state leg- ing 26 governorships in islatures in 2010 used their 2018, nearly half of which newfound power to draw will be open because incum- lines that helped them win bents can’t or chose not to and retain majorities in the run again. Democrats will have nine governorships on following years. An AP analysis published the ballot. Alaska Gov. Bill earlier this year found that Walker, an independent, also Republicans won as many is up for re-election. By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press State Rep. Deborah Boone carries a resolution honoring Sgt. Jason Goodding. Boone: State Sen. Johnson praised Boone for her focus on coast, coastal constituents Continued from Page 1A different legislators, as well as on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. In her retirement announce- ment, Boone pointed to accomplishments in ocean pol- icy and fisheries issues, along with seismic safety and eco- nomic development. “It has been an honor to have assisted hundreds of con- stituents over the years and to have worked collaboratively with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on thousands of pieces of legislation,” Boone said. “I would like to thank the citizens of my district for the honor and privilege of serving as their state representative.” State Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, praised Boone for her focus on coastal con- stituents and issues. “She has been the quint- essential citizen legislator,” Johnson said. ‘I would like to thank the citizens of my district for the honor and privilege of serving as their state representative’ State Rep. Deborah Boone New hopefuls Tim Josi, a Democrat who served in the state House from 1991 to 1998, announced Tuesday he would not seek re-election to the Tillamook County Commission and would instead run for Boone’s seat. He has been on the county commission since 1999. “If elected, I would hit the ground running,” Josi said in a news release. “Fortunately, I know the legislative pro- cess very well through almost 30 years of experience. I also have a solid understanding of the issues and problems that we face at the local, regional, state and national levels. Most importantly, I have learned how to work collaboratively with both Democrats and Republicans to forge solutions that fit our needs and move us in a positive direction.” Boone, a longtime staffer in Salem, previously worked under Josi. He was also encouraged to run for the Leg- islature again by Johnson, who called him “an excellent pub- lic servant.” Brian Halvorsen, a com- munity organizer who founded North Coast Progressives last year, filed as an independent in September. On his campaign site, Halvorsen took aim at the two-party system and Boone’s history. He struck a popu- list tone, listing among his campaign priorities lowering income inequality, increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy, ending the use of fos- sil fuels in Oregon, reforming campaign financing and mak- ing education affordable. Doug Thompson, chairman of the Clatsop County Demo- cratic Central Committee, said he hopes for contested primary and general elections and sees no favorite to replace Boone. Jim Hoffman, chairman of the Clatsop County Republican Party Central Committee, said the party is still figuring out who will run, and might know next month. The filing deadline is March 6. Seaside: Neighbors shared their safety concerns Continued from Page 1A than coming around the out- side,” Cupples said. “It would be in their development rather than on the outside of it.” Developers Bruce Ritchie and Max Ritchie of Nordoff Pacific Capital LLC returned to the Planning Commission in December with revised plans reducing the number of lots and including a cross-section that would allow for a 5-foot wide bike path running from the intersection of Avenue S and Cooper all the way up to the intersection of Cooper and Wahanna. The redesign is intended to provide an alternative route for pedestrians and bikes along the corner of Avenue S and Wah- anna, according to a city staff report. The prior 46-lot plan would have accommodated a duplex on every lot with the excep- tion of one, Cupples said. The revised plan presents 59 lots. ‘The concentration of kids and cars is not a good mix, without any mitigating factors, like a stop sign or speed bumps’ Maria Pincetich Seaside resident Only three of these would be large enough to permit the development of duplexes, reducing the maximum num- ber of potential units. Safety concerns Neighbors said they antic- ipate a potential boost in cars and buses headed to the new Seaside School District cam- pus, scheduled for a fall 2020 opening. The development could create a “huge” traffic prob- lem, Thysell said. “I live over there, and on school days, it’s tough to get onto (Highway) 101,” he said. “In the summers, it’s almost impossible — and we’re add- ing 40 to 50 new houses plus what’s happening at the high school.” Resident Maria Pincetich said she wants to make sure the plan is well-thought out and safe. “I’m concerned that the kids in the neighborhood can arrive to school in one piece,” Pincetich said after the meet- ing. “You’re going to have a lot more cars on Avenue S and Wahanna. The concen- tration of kids and cars is not a good mix, without any mit- igating factors, like a stop sign or speed bumps.” The public hearing will be continued at the Planning Commission’s Feb. 6 meeting. Oregon Attorney General Settlement Notice The Attorney General’s Settlement Could Benefit You! Did You Buy a TV, Monitor, or Laptop Computer That Contained an LCD Flat Panel Screen, During the Years 2002 to 2006? Or Did You Buy a TV or Computer Monitor That Contained a Cathode Ray Tube (“CRT”), During the Years 1995 through 2007? You May be Entitled to Compensation. Please read this notice carefully as your legal rights are affected whether you act or do not act. PARA UNA NOTIFICACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL, LLAMAR O VISITAR NUESTRO WEBSITE. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has resolved two lawsuits she brought on behalf of Oregon natural persons against certain manufacturers of liquid crystal display (“LCD”) flat panels and cathode ray tubes (“CRTs”). The lawsuits allege the manufacturers illegally agreed upon the pricing of LCD flat panels and CRTs. Oregon has settled with all defendants for a total of $36,900,000 (“Settlement Fund”), and you may be entitled to a portion of the Settlement Fund. Who Is Included? Natural persons who indirectly purchased at any time during the years 2002 to 2006, for their own use and not for resale, LCD panels incorporated into flat panel TVs, computer monitors or laptop computers; or who indirectly purchased at any time during the years 1995 to 2007, for their own use and not for resale, CRTs incorporated into TVs or computer monitors. A purchaser must have been an Oregon resident at the time of the purchase. An indirect purchaser is someone that purchased products containing LCD flat panels or CRTs from someone other than the company that manufactured the LCD flat panel or CRT component, such as from an electronics retailer or a device manufacturer other than one of the Defendants. “Natural persons” means a human, not a business. How Do I Get Settlement Funds? File a claim: Consumers need to file a claim to obtain benefits in this settlement. Claims can be completed online at www.OregonScreenSettlement.com or by mailing the claim form, available for download, to the Settlement Administrator. The deadline for filing claims is April 2, 2018. How Do I Get More Information? More information about the lawsuits, settlements, and the claims process can be found at www.OregonScreenSettlement.com, by calling 1-877-940-7791, or writing to: Oregon Screen Settlement, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 10240, Dublin, Ohio 43017-5740. This Notice is an official legal notice of the Oregon Department of Justice Seaside Planning Department Proposed 59-home Blue Heron plan. 1-877-940-7791 www.OregonScreenSettlement.com