The board of fire commissioners of a fire protection district may adopt a resolution by unanimous vote causing a ballot proposition to be submitted to voters of the district authorizing the creation of commissioner districts. The board of fire commissioners shall create commissioner districts if the ballot proposition authorizing the creation of commissioner districts is approved by a simple majority vote of the voters of the fire protection district voting on the proposition. Three commissioner districts shall be created for a fire protection district with three commissioners, and five commissioner districts shall be created for a fire protection district with five commissioners. No two commissioners may reside in the same commissioner district.

     No change in the boundaries of any commissioner district shall be made within one hundred twenty days next before the date of a general district election, nor within twenty months after the commissioner districts have been established or altered. However, if a boundary change results in one commissioner district being represented by two or more commissioners, those commissioners having the shortest unexpired terms shall be assigned by the commission to commissioner districts where there is a vacancy, and the commissioners so assigned shall be deemed to be residents of the commissioner districts to which they are assigned for purposes of determining whether those positions are vacant.

     The population of each commissioner district shall include approximately equal population. Commissioner districts shall be redrawn as provided in *chapter 29.70 RCW. Commissioner districts shall be used as follows: (1) Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or serve as, a commissioner of the commissioner district; and (2) only voters of a commissioner district may vote at a primary to nominate candidates for a commissioner of the commissioner district. Voters of the entire fire protection district may vote at a general election to elect a person as a commissioner of the commissioner district.

     When a board of fire commissioners that has commissioner districts has been increased to five members under RCW 52.14.015, the board of fire commissioners shall divide the fire protection district into five commissioner districts before it appoints the two additional fire commissioners. The two additional fire commissioners who are appointed shall reside in separate commissioner districts in which no other fire commissioner resides.

[1994 c 223 § 49; 1992 c 74 § 2.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: Chapter 29.70 RCW was recodified as chapter 29A.76 RCW pursuant to 2003 c 111 § 2401, effective July 1, 2004.

Creation of commissioner districts upon merger: RCW 52.06.085.