1999-08-25 Charter Commission Minutes (2)

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minutes 8-25-99Page 34 of 60 now. We have three parties. So I don’t think it’s as important for people as it used to be. My colleagues in the other counties seem to be quite comfortable with the nonpartisan system. Also, there are nine council districts and there are six State House districts. As a result, because they cannot be identical because of numerical disparity, we have to print 16 different ballots. We have to print 16 ballot types for use on the island so one of the recommendations I was going to make is, I guess you guys have kicked it around too, some people have kicked it around, this idea of going to maybe six member districts and maybe three at large. And if you guys do something like that, I was going to suggest that whenever possible, if we do go to a six council district scenario, we should try to have them identical to the State Representative districts so that now we only have to ask the taxpayers to print six different ballot types instead of 16. That would bring down the cost of elections. RAY: Al, just in regard to that. KONISHI: Yes. RAY: The terms and single member vs. at large. Do you think this should be any different? KONISHI: Yes. Well, first of all, I was going to say, I think all council terms should be four years, just say that, but I know what chance that has so I would say that if you’re not going to do that, I would suggest, that in order to give an incentive to people to run at large, I would give those three at least four year terms because of the cost and effort it takes to run for office on an island wide basis. RAY: Marni has a question. HERKES: Would you recommend State House Representatives be elected for four years also? KONISHI: No, I wouldn’t but I think it’s different because that is a bicameral situation just like the U.S. Congress where you have some members serving four, in the case of the State Legislature, on a staggered basis, and you have some that run on a two year basis, being the House Member, same thing with the U.S. House and Senate, whereas the County Council is a unicameral situation. So for example, in Honolulu they have four year terms. I’m not sure on Maui. I believe they also do and Kauai has two year terms. But again, it’s just a personal thought. I think that you get greater accountability if people run every two years but right now, is that what the people need most of all? I think what they need most of all is having people that can think on a long term basis and make plans on a long term basis as opposed to greater accountability. You still have accountability if people have four year terms. They still got to run. It’s just they have a chance to do a little longer ranged planning, etc. MARTIN: I have a question before you continue. Sorry for interrupting. KONISHI: No, no problem. MARTIN: You made mention about running the six instead of the nine, and you thought it would save some monies because of the ballot prints. Have any ideas, a dollar figure, what it would save? KONISHI: No, I don’t have any idea. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 8-25-99.html7/1/2011