2000-01-15 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 01-15-00Page 12 of 59 could have that leverage. So, it really is up to the public apathy, and I don’t know how that’s going to translate when we put it on the ballot, because when you put it on the ballot, I feel it’s doomed to failure. And if you put four-year and two-year, a lot of this may carry the weight with it. RAY: I’m not sure what you’re saying. Just spell it out for me, under this 6-3 scenario, what are you suggesting in regard to term limits? SANTANGELO: Okay. Six single member, three at-large, two-year terms with separate term limits. So if you’re serving as a two-year single member representative, you have an eight-year limit. You run for an at-large, you start over again. RAY: Okay, that’s what you’re saying. SANTANGELO: Wasn’t that what was suggested before? HIGASHI: But, in any event, if there is a term limit, we’ll stay with the eight-year term limit, and he would begin a new term, 2 four-year terms would be maximum for the at-large. RAY: So, you’re suggesting that you could serve 4 two-year terms and then an additional 2 four-year terms? HERKES: If you can get elected. RAY: Is that what you’re saying? HIGASHI: Yes, if you serve for two - RAY: 4 two-year terms. HIGASHI: 4 two-year terms. RAY: Then you could run for an additional 2 four-year terms? HIGASHI: It’s a different office. Right now, if you live in Hilo and you move to Hamakua, you could probably run for office again. HERKES: Keep moving around the island, you could - HIGASHI: I think so. I mean, your title is Councilman, Hamakua. Anyway, that’s some legal question. YUEN: No, it’s not. IRVINE: You don’t think so, Chris? YUEN: No, I don’t think so because the term limits is really directed at the individual. In the terms of the Council members, every time you are serving a new term, but I think they’re looking at you as a Council member. In the present Charter, I would have to say it’s a gray area that was passed in ‘96. Whatever we do, it’s best to spell it out. And so, I understand what you’re saying and that can be spelled out, exactly what you’re saying. Your proposal would really enable somebody to serve 16 years, as long as they went district to at-large, and I understand that, and that could be spelled out plainly, if that’s the sense of all the Commission members. RAY: Daryl, did you have something to say? KUROZAWA: I just had a question. Can you talk a little about the two-four-two thing, or do I want to know? RAY: That was a letter, and I don’t know that I have it. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 01-15-00.html7/1/2011