MIN RDC 2011-11-22 PH-HILO CHAMBERS.tif

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I have to tell you that it is important, as I see it, as we move ahead into the next five or ten years, that we don't lose the important work that you have done and make certain that we capture those comments and recommendations that could be key to make this process easier; to eliminate even further problems or questions that might arise from other communities in the next redistricting process. I urge that the Commission members take some time; I know you have spend an awful lot already, but please, take a little time on behalf of the County Council to make certain that you provide us with good, useful, and effective recommendations as we move ahead; and we read with pleasure, and with appreciation, the Final Report that is submitted by the Redistricting Commission. Thanks once again for all the effort that you have made in this process. CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you, Pete; and thank you for your support all through the whole process. There were times when we really felt like we needed some support. Let's go to Pahoa now. MS. LIVELY: Thank you Madam Chair, our next testifier is James Weatherford, he is commenting on Redistricting and he is representing himself. JAMES WEATHERFORD (At this time James Weatherford came forward via videoconference from Pahoa to address members of the Commission.) MR. WEATHERFORD: Aloha. Again, I want to thank you Commissioners individually and as a team for your good work that you have been doing. I do want to have a comment on one item that I have been looking at and contemplating a bit. That is the boundary between District 4 and District 5; as it now runs straight through on Pahoa Village Road. I want to encourage the Commission to consider changing that, and making that on the Pahoa Bypass that goes just makai of Pahoa Village. As far as the numbers, District 4 is already more than full, so losing a few to District 5 would not be a problem. It certainly doesn't create any problems as far as travel in either district. So I would encourage you to have a look at that. Thank you. It couldn't be more than 100 or 200 people involved there. CHR. SIRACUSA: For clarification, I would like to ask you what you see as the difference; what difference it would make to have it on the Bypass or to have it on Pahoa Village Road. What are your concerns that you are looking at here that we should take into consideration? MR. WEATHERFORD: Thank you, Rene, for the question. It just makes sense, to start with. And one of the things that I have observed; most people don't keep track of where their voter registration is, and I do foresee some confusion over the years with people living on opposite sides of the street. And you know we don't need to do anything that is going to stop one person from being certain where they are going to vote. To me, I know, over the years from working on various campaigns, I have seen people who did not vote because there was confusion about where they should vote. To me, that is the sort of thing that as the years go by over the next ten years, we'll come to wish we had. Thank you. 0