Will Chelan County legislatures be accessible to Snoqualmie and Skykomish Valley residents?

 

Let's say the 12th legislative district boundaries are finalized.  Will citizens in North Bend and Monroe have direct access to their lawmakers.  Their is nothing in rules of being a legislature that requires them to have town halls or even offices in areas they represent even though those areas are remote from Chelan County.  The only thing that they are required to do is answer email or communicate by written correspondence to a resident in their legislative district on an issue the person has raised.  The state gives very little for office expenses for legislatures including postage and staff.  They are only required to maintain one office in the legislative district outside of their Olympia office.  If a legislature were to maintain an office outside of that it would have to be at their own expense.  This is according to legislatures I have known over the years when it comes to this issue.  Chances a North Bend, Carnation, Fall City and a Skykomish Valley resident is going to commute to Wenatchee especially in the winter to talk to their lawmakers is very unlikely considering they would have to drive about 70 miles to see their lawmakers.  Remember the state does provide an 800 number during session A separate toll free number would have to paid for by the lawmaker.  Remember each district has a state senator and two house members.  Even if the members shared outside expenses it would require a committee to determine which party is responsible for which expense.  If this finalize let's hope the areas outside of Chelan County will get adequate representation in this crazy 12th legislative district.