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<br />KOSSOW: We can hear you.
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<br />FLAHERTY: Thank you very much. Thank you, members of the Redistricting
<br />Commission. My name is Chuck Flaherty. I also have been involved, as Brenda Ford, in
<br />the—what was the Reapportionment Commission back in 2000, as well as the
<br />Redistricting Commission in 2011, that process—the amending of Hawaiʻi County’s laws
<br />to get the standardization for redistricting more clearly set out in our laws. Including the
<br />fact that a Reapportionment Commission who’s on this Commission cannot run for
<br />County Council office in the next election, or yeah. So, my biggest concerns at this point,
<br />because we’re obviously in the very early stages, I just would like for the Commission to
<br />consider the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as the most prominent geographical
<br />feature on this island. If you look at the current District 6, it is huge. I mean, it extends,
<br />it’s a big—takes a long time to drive through it, and it’s very difficult for the council
<br />representative that’s in that district. As such, I would hope that you would put Volcano
<br />into a district that’s on the Hilo side, rather than one that goes all the way around to
<br />Kealakekua and Captain Cook, if only because of logistics. In addition to that, people in
<br />Volcano have a closer socio-economic relationship with that’s side of the island, than
<br />they do to the west side of the island.
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<br />The other thing is, as Mrs. Ford pointed out, the road situation. I have asked for a list of
<br />those roads that are impacted. I have not received that. I don’t know if you all received
<br />that or have asked for that. If or when I get that listing, I’ll forward it to you so that you
<br />have it. If you’re able to get that, if that information could be somehow published to the
<br />public, I’d appreciate it.
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<br />In addition, my other big concern is the non-resident population. So, I wasn’t clear from
<br />this meeting, how you’re going to be able to take—identify, non-resident aliens, military
<br />personnel, and students. So, if that information, or data, could be identified or the way in
<br />which that data is identified in the census or if that information was actually captured, if
<br />you could share that with the public as well, it would be very much appreciated so we can
<br />be more clear about what the difficulties are, and the degree to which there may be errors
<br />in the numbers. Other than that, good luck. I appreciate your volunteer service and I will
<br />do what I can to assist this great effort. Thank you very much.
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<br />JACOB AKI
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<br />KAUKA: Thank you, Mr. Flaherty. Our next testifier is Mr. Jacob Aki, followed by Ms.
<br />Shannon Matson. Mr. Aki, you may begin, and you may unmute yourself.
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<br />AKI: Thank you. Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the Hawaiʻi County
<br />Redistricting Commission. Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. My name is Jacob Aki
<br />and I’m here today on behalf of Common Cause Hawaiʻi. Common Cause Hawaiʻi is a
<br />non-partisan, non-profit grass roots organization dedicated to upholding the core values
<br />of American democracy and ensuring a fair and transparent reapportionment and
<br />redistricting process. We have submitted written testimony ahead of today’s meeting, but
<br />we would like to highlight a few major points. First, we request that, if it is not a part of
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