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<br /> Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br /> <br /> P/PW(ZRC <br /> Murashige, Laura P <br /> <br /> From: Gene and Susan Dursin [sgd7@aloha.net] 20 JAN <br /> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 7:51 AM 8 fl~ 7 S7 <br /> To: Council Testimony ^ GQ'~e, 4 i,= <br /> <br /> Subject: Res. 439-07 /,-om M SOUNT~f <br /> <br /> To: Hawai'i County Council <br /> From: Susan Dursin, Co-president, League of Women Voters <br /> Date: January 8. 2008 <br /> Re: Support for Resolution 439-07, Urging Legislators to Support Publicly Funded Elections for Hawai'i County Council <br /> Once again, I would ask for your affirmative vote for this resolution. For many years, The League of Women Voters <br /> has favored the public funding of elections at all levels of government. Now both state and local governments have <br /> shown that it can work, and that when it is instituted, both the public and the candidates are happy with results. More <br /> citizens, across a wider spectrum, are able to run for office. Candidates can spend their campaign time and effort <br /> on issues rather than on raising money. Finally, the public is assured that candidates do not owe debts of gratitude to <br /> big-dollar contributors. With that, the level of trust in government rises. <br /> Not every candidate will participate, of course. Public funding laws are written to guarantee a candidate's right to raise <br /> and spend money as he/she chooses. Thus, the argument that public funding laws are unconstitutional simply does not <br /> hold water. Another argument is that with many problems requiring expenditure, the county does not have the dollars <br /> to fund elections. This pilot project would fund the program with state dollars, allowing a trial period for Hawai'i County <br /> to see how it works. <br /> I want to make it very clear that League has never used the term "Clean" elections because we do have faith in elected <br /> officials to govern. We respect the tremendous effort and sacrifice of time and energy that serving in elected office <br /> entails. And so we believe that candidates should not have to spend their own money to underwrite a campaign. Not <br /> only is that asking too much, many candidates do not have the resources to take money out of their own pockets. We <br /> recognize that candidates for county office here have not spent large sums of money in the past. However, as the island <br /> develops and more issues involve financial interests, it is likely that ever-increasing amounts will be spent on campaigns, <br /> with some contributors having deep pockets. Support for this resolution is not a reflection on any official. We are saying <br /> only that the more money that's involved, the greater the opportunity for bias. <br /> It would be good to try out a system that enables a candidate to be free from financial worries. It would be very good to <br /> have the County of Hawaii lead the way in this state to put such a system in place. <br /> Thank you. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> wT <br /> <br /> Reef oa.,1.rd" -r.LC_ <br /> Ref. Dote JAN 8 2nna <br /> <br /> 1/8/2008 <br />