Times/News Correspondent

As local political campaigns for the fall election heat up, many voters will notice changes in the King County Council districts.

Many of these voters also will find themselves in new districts.

One of these is in Southwest King County, where District 13 King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson (D-SeaTac) faces a challenge from Republican Orin Wells (R-Kent) in new Council District 5.

Last November, voters approved a cost-saving measure to reduce the number of King County Council districts from 13 to nine.

After the measure was passed, county Republicans and Democrats appointed two representatives each to a committee that would draw new district boundaries.

They elected Steve Ohlenkamp, a public policy consultant, as chairman of the districting committee.

The group had to reduce the number of council districts while maintaining approximately the same population in each district.

Population maps for the committee were prepared by John Schlosser of Geographic Systems Incorporated.

One concern with this process was changes in demographics within the new districts compared to the old ones.

But this problem appears to have been averted.

According to Dennis Smith, past chairman of the 34th District Republicans, no balances were shifted or swayed.

Each of the nine new council districts holds approximately 195,000 people.

All King County Council members are required to run for re-election under the new format, even in districts where only one name appears on the ballot.

The only county council races in which contests appear on next week's primary election ballot involve Democrats in District 1 and Republicans in District 9.

New King County Council District 5, which is larger than the current District 13, encompasses Des Moines, SeaTac, Tukwila and Kent.

Current District 5 Councilman Dwight Pelz (D-Seattle) is running for the Seattle City Council.

District 8 Councilman Dow Constantine is unopposed. His expanded district includes Burien, Normandy Park, North Highline, West Seattle and Vashon.

Before her election to the King County Council, Patterson served as a state representative from District 33. Before that, she was a SeaTac city councilwoman,

Wells, a political newcomer, has been a small business owner and an independent consultant in Kent for the past 13 years.

The District 5 match-up becomes more interesting because many King County Republicans see this race as their best chance to reverse the party's fortunes on the county council.

If Wells were to upset Patterson, Republicans would shift from a one-vote minority on the old council to a one-vote majority on the new nine-district council.

According to Michael Young, chairmen of the King County Republicans, District 5 is a swing district.

While Democrats might have more registered voters in the district, Young thinks Wells' message can reach Independent voters, which could sway the vote in the direction of the Republicans.

But Susan Sheary, chairmen of the King County Democrats, does not believe the race will even be close.

"A man that has no political experience can go up against Julia Patterson, excuse me?" Sheary scoffed.

"Julia Patterson has never lost a political race, ever. She knows how to win and she certainly has the support of the Democratic Party."

Much of Wells campaign is focusing on how Democrats are spending taxpayers' money.

"Frankly, Julia is part of the problem," Young said.

"The district deserves better, and I think Orin Wells will provide that," he added.

Aaron Lommers can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com, or at 206-444-4873.