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minutes 03-25-00Page 21 of 34
<br />RUDOLPH: Yes, I’m trying to plan ahead.
<br />RAY: Okay.
<br />RUDOLPH: And thank you for your time, and those of you that would like to see an elected Commission, you’re going to
<br />have to write the Commission and tell your friends because if you don’t ask for it, you’re not going to get it. Thank you.
<br />RAY: Ray Moore, followed by Keola Childs. Is Ray Moore here?
<br />MOORE: Mr. Chairman, members, thank you very much for all the work that you’ve done. It’s a real dedication. I came
<br />from another life, another jurisdiction, where I was a County Chairman of a major political party. I was a State Senator for 16
<br />years from the other party. I have served on quite a few Commissions, committees. One of the things that I might suggest that
<br />you consider is that in setting up Boards and Commissions, you try to make it possible for some people who have an axe to
<br />grind to be on that Commission. They will bring their personal or professional view into play, and it may be imperfect, but it
<br />will be a point of view that will not exist if you appoint people that are just good citizens and want to serve.
<br />The second thing is I am quite opposed to non-partisan elections. When I see the word ‘Democrat’ opposite somebody’s
<br />name, it has a certain connotation to me. When I see the word ‘Republican’ after a name, it indicates to me a certain point of
<br />view. Now when you run as non-partisans, you have no idea what this person’s basic philosophy is. And so I rather favor
<br />keeping it the way it is.
<br />Now as to the members at-large. This makes it only too possible, as Ms. Bonk pointed out, for those with money, having a
<br />countywide race, to be the ones that prevail. I do not think this is healthy. One of the things that you might consider is in
<br />addition to the six legislative district boundaries for Council positions, have the three Senatorial Districts as boundaries for
<br />the countywide ones. This would get it down to size where people of modest means would still be able to run an effective
<br />race in an area where their neighbors know them.
<br />I think you need to consider seriously this matter of redistricting. As it appears to me in reading your material, if you leave it
<br />to the State, I can guarantee you the wrestling match that will go on in the Legislature will end up being gerrymandering. It’s
<br />inevitable. I participated in two statewide redistricting plans and, when it gets down to it, inevitably you’re going to find an
<br />effort being made in this very area to concentrate all of the people of one party in one compact district. This is not healthy,
<br />and so I think we would be best served by having a County redistricting body to make these decisions. I do not think the State
<br />- I don’t think it’s appropriate.
<br />I notice one thing that distressed me slightly was that a couple of these departments, you’re asking them to cooperate, one
<br />with the other. And in reading it, I can’t determine which one has superior jurisdiction. And if you ask Department Heads to
<br />do this, it’s putting an undue burden on their relations because ego comes into play, and I think it’s going to be difficult, so I
<br />think you need to consider a clear definition of what the duties are of each one of these departments and keep them separate.
<br />I thank you very much for the opportunity and Godspeed. Thank you.
<br />RAY: Sure. Marni.
<br />HERKES: Thank you, Ray. I want to tell you, as well as everybody, that right after you vote on the Charter Commission, the
<br />Reapportionment Commission’s coming around right on the heels of it because the 2000 Census will be over, and we will
<br />start the Reapportionment Commission. I hope to see all of you at those hearings because that’s the only way you can stop
<br />the gerrymandering, is by heightened public participation. And everybody look at where those lines are drawn. And the other
<br />thing I’d like to ask everybody to think about, we have about 14,000 people in every district now. We’ll have maybe 2%
<br />more growth on our island so that number will go up, and is 14,000 how many should be in each Council District. If we start
<br />thinking about those things now, and the census is being taken, as you all know, and I hope you’re all filling out your census
<br />forms and sending them back. And then right after that, we’ll start the reapportionment. But, yes, you’re right, it’s coming
<br />right on the heels of this one.
<br />RAY: George.
<br />G. MARTIN: I’d like to thank you for coming out this morning. I appreciate your comments. I have one question that you
<br />brought up, and I’d like to pursue, if at all possible, with the so-called axe grinders. How would you go about making sure
<br />they have an opportunity to get onto the Commissions? I mean, I don’t see us as having the power to do that. It comes down
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