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minutes 12-04-99Page 8 of 39
<br />we face terrific public opposition, or future considerations and amendments, then we should consider that then.
<br />RAY: George.
<br />MARTIN: What I was going to say is somewhat in line with what I think John was saying earlier about not being able to
<br />approach your Council member. In some cases, you can approach your Council member and have no problem with the
<br />individual, but you can’t approach the other eight because you don’t have any say in their political lives, so if the idea is great
<br />between you and your Council representative, it could stop right there. So I think this particular format is great, but what was
<br />brought up by the doctor over there, I never looked at in that it could be slated to mean one side or the other would be the
<br />vote populace, so I think the vote following the senatorial situation makes sense. Of course, Roland, let’s correct the
<br />problems if, in fact, they do come up, but why not put into writing so that the people look at it and say, yes, they do have the
<br />right thoughts in mind. Let’s put it in place before we do go to the public meetings, if we have the ability to do it.
<br />RAY: Marni.
<br />HERKES: Is the fact that people don’t vote, have the opportunity to, but don’t vote, something that we should use in making
<br />our decision. I don’t feel it is. And Sue, I have the floor.
<br />IRVINE: No, I’m -
<br />HERKES: And I feel that, actually, the people in Kona have an opportunity to vote. They have an opportunity to be
<br />represented. As far as I’m concerned, when I need some clarification, or something done on the County Council, I go talk to a
<br />Hilo Councilman, and that person helps me. I find that all of the Council people are, and this is going on the record - I find
<br />that all of the Council people have an open mind and will help you, and I think that what you do is you go to the people that
<br />think the same way you do, that have the same interests that you do, no matter where they come from. They do have to get
<br />elected from their districts but when you need clarification, or need something to go through, the door’s always open.
<br />RAY: So, are you speaking in favor of this?
<br />HERKES: Yes. I don’t think that the fact that people don’t vote is something that I’m going to use to make a decision. What I
<br />want is efficient government. I’d like to see participation, and maybe if the people in Kona recognize that they have the
<br />opportunity to have an elected official, they’ll get out and elect one from Kona, an at-large person.
<br />RAY: Sue.
<br />IRVINE: Marni, it’s not that the people in Kona don’t vote. Actually, in my district nowadays, they vote as poorly as they do
<br />in Kona. I did look up all of the statistics, and apparently, I’ve left them at home. It’s Hamakua where they vote at a great
<br />rate, and there just are more people on the Hilo side, on the East side, than the West side.
<br />HERKES: Not from the latest census, I think.
<br />IRVINE: Okay, then that, I don’t know about.
<br />RAY: John.
<br />SANTANGELO: Again, when I gave my reasons, I gave both sides. Frankly, people don’t vote. Tough. On the other hand,
<br />can we look at what Roland’s put forward, and I struggle with this because frankly, I’m going to get bit over some of the
<br />perception. But is this good government? Is what’s been put forward - is it a model that’s used elsewhere? Has it worked, and
<br />do we see it working here? Sue, you’re shaking your head. You mean this isn’t used elsewhere? This is a brand new
<br />invention?
<br />IRVINE: No, the trend is to go toward single member rather than the other way, nationally.
<br />SANTANGELO: So, I’m confused. We’re such a unique environment, why do we always follow mainland ways here
<br />because we’re ta da, and then when we want something different -
<br />IRVINE: I didn’t say we had to follow them.
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