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MR. KANUHA: Yes, I’m willing to dedicate my time and energy to be the Vice Chairman of <br />this Commission. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Do we have any other nominations? Seeing none, I’ll accept the motion to <br />approve the nomination of Dru Kanuha. <br />Ms. Ugalde moved to accept the nomination of <br />Dru Kanuha to serve as Vice Chairperson of the 2011 <br />Hawai‘i County Redistricting Commission. Seconded <br />by Mr. Carvalho and carried by the following vote: <br />Ayes: Commissioners Carvalho, Kahawaiolaa, <br />Kahui, Kanuha, Melrose, Middlesworth, <br />Poindexter, Ugalde, and Chair Siracusa. <br />Noes: None. <br />Absent: None. <br /> CHR. SIRACUSA: Motion carries, welcome aboard, Dru. <br />MR. MELROSE: Madam Chair, just a comment; I think that’s a good start. We have a Puna <br />representative and we have a Kona representative and I think that’s a good way to start the <br />process. I hope the community recognizes that. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: We also are balanced gender wise. Thank you very much; and age wise. <br />STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: The next thing on our agenda is Statements from the Public, and I have one. <br />James Weatherford, who would like to comment on the Redistricting Rules. James is <br />representing himself. Welcome. <br />MR. WEATHERFORD: Thank you, and congratulations. I just wanted to make a comment on <br />the regulations. Although it may not explicitly say so, I think it is implicit that the Commission <br />will be following the County Code, I believe it is Section 3-17. There are a couple of things in <br />there that stand out, that are really big. There are things that did not occur, or that were a <br />problem in Puna ten years ago. I would like to see this Commission, which is off to a great start, <br />set your standard much higher than that Commission did. <br />There are three points that are mentioned in the County Code. One that says a community of <br />common interest shall be respected and kept together. That is pretty fundamental. The second <br />one that says there is no gerrymandering. I’m sure all of you, or if you haven’t, will familiarize <br />yourself with that term; look it up in the dictionary or in Wikipedia. Thank you. Third, it says <br />there shall be no drawing of bizarre district shapes. I’m going to be right up front with you; if <br />you look at the way that Orchid Land is carved out of the districts in Puna, you will see that was <br />9 <br /> <br /> <br />