Several Republican state legislators recently expressed disapproval of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery” plan, which started Jan. 11.

Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, wrote a letter to Inslee on Jan. 15, stating it is “illogical” for small counties and big counties to be grouped. Combining rural communities and urban communities is like apples and oranges, according to the letter.

“It’s frustrating when the smaller communities are lumped together,” Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said in an interview with the Herald.

In addition to Dent, 39 other legislators, including Warnick, signed the letter. Signatures from all District 9 legislators, as well as Rep. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, and Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, also signed.

“I just didn’t like the recovery plan and how (Inslee) put it together,” Dent said in an interview with the Herald. “Obviously, there were 39 other legislators that felt the same way.”

Dent said some rural areas, like Kittitas County, have done a great job of managing COVID-19 cases. Grouping them with urban areas that have a higher rate of cases, like Yakima County, is only devastating to communities, especially small businesses.

In Kittitas County, there have been 30 COVID-19-related deaths and 2,002 cases as of Jan. 22, according to the state Department of Health website. In Yakima County, there have been 360 COVID-19-related deaths and 23,690 cases.

Both counties are in the South Central region, according to Inslee’s plan.

“I’m not asking to open (the state) up completely 100%,” Dent said. “I’m saying we need to start moving somewhere.”

Another part of Dent’s letter addresses Inslee’s plan to make local public health districts have a more regional approach. Dent said looping different health districts together will not be effective.

Warnick said having local control is better.

“Our public health districts have done a very good job and response to the local needs,” Warnick said. “I think putting them in a regional situation that is run more by the state is a mistake.”

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said in an interview with the Herald that Inslee’s plan is “flawed.” Garfield County, for instance, cannot move to Phase 2 because it is grouped with Spokane County.

In Garfield County, there have been four COVID-19-related deaths and 102 cases as of Jan. 22, according to the state Department of Health website. In Spokane County, there have been 438 COVID-19-related deaths and 31,930 cases.

Both Garfield and Spokane counties are in the East region, according to Inslee’s plan.

“Inslee never really cared about small, rural Washington anyway,” Schoesler said.

Dent said Inslee has not responded to his letter. He said it is time for the governor to lift the state of emergency and let the legislators become a part of the state’s recovery process.

“We should be part of the effort to handle COVID,” Dent said.