Secession Drive Forms In Rural King County

Some residents of east King County have launched what they hope will be their final petition drive to create Cedar County.

“We’re gearing up to the end of November to collect and turn in all our petitions. Then we can take stock of where we are,” said Lois Gustafson, a Redmond-area resident and backer of the Cedar County Committee.

As proposed, Cedar County would take in the eastern two-thirds of King County, including the cities of North Bend, Enumclaw and Duvall. Supporters include property-rights advocates and residents who complain of being ignored by the Seattle-dominated county council.

Gustafson contends Cedar County will be established when a majority living within its proposed boundaries sign the petition.

State and King County officials say creating a new county would require approval of the Legislature.

Campaigns to secede and create new counties also have been mounted in rural areas of Snohomish, Pierce, Lewis and Whatcom counties.