2000-04-29 Charter Commission Minutes

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Transcript of Meeting of April 29, 2000Page 11 of 64 SANTANGELO: Well, you’ve giving me some hope here so I have to ask this question. So, your objection isn’t that it isn’t good government. Your objection is it wouldn’t be someone that you feel would be beholden to you? KRIEWALD: My feeling is that if you go 6-3, you’re going to end up with something that cannot be changed. In other words, we’re very close, I feel, and I say we’re very close – We’ve very close to getting a Council, and hopefully in the next election, that will listen to people in different districts and vote for the good of the island instead of the good of a particular place. And I think if you go 6-3, you’re going to essentially destroy that opportunity because you may say that the three at-large candidates are going to be beholden to the whole island. That’s what the Mayor is. He’s elected over the whole island and, God knows, he’s not beholden to a lot of districts. You have to keep a small a group as possible and say we elected you here. We want you to do this and you are accountable. SANTANGELO: Just one last statement. I always like to get in hot water. The thing that frustrates me about all of this is you’re right about the vote. The rule of thumb has been 50% of a population registers, and 50% of that votes. But in that crisis is the opportunity that if we, the people, would get off our butts and get out there, and talk to our neighbor, any district in Kona could control any island-wide election because they met, talked and moved. We just don’t do it. But, you’re right. KRIEWALD: I sat in front of Wal-Mart registering people, and what you get is my God, I’m not going to register. I’ll have to pay taxes here. I’m sorry. That’s the story. Thank you. RAY: Okay, thank you, Walt. Pete Martin, followed by Marshall Blann. PRANKE: I think that the vast majority of you folks have done a good job of working real hard, and while some of us are opposing some of these things, it’s not because we don’t realize you’ve done a lot of work. COMMISSIONERS: Thank you. RAY: Okay. Pete. MARTIN: Good morning. My name is Pete Martin. I’m from Kailua-Kona, and I’m a representative of CERG, Citizens for Equitable and Responsible Government. Walt just spoke to you about the three at- large and I know that some people may feel that we’re beating a dead horse, but I would like to answer Mr. Santangelo. That good government is not me and thee separated by distance. Good government is what is fair and equitable for everybody. Now, let’s just say that five years down the road, that Kona has more people than Hilo. Should we then control the agenda and leave Hilo out? I don’t think so. That’s not the way to put our island together. The way to put our island together is to make sure that everybody is properly represented. So we are adamantly opposed to it. Now, I hear you very loud and clear about bicameral government. And if we truly want a bicameral government, then lets have one. If we want to have a House and Senate at Hilo, that’s fine, let’s do that, but let’s not correct what’s beginning to work finally. It’s finally beginning to work. We’ve very close to having a Council that actually represents this entire island, so we shouldn’t foul that up now, at this point. So what I would like to say to you is if you think a bicameral government is a really good idea, then let’s go for it. SANTANGELO: Don’t saddle them with it. That’s my statement, so don’t saddle them with it. And I use that phrase to describe it. MARTIN: Okay. And so therefore, that’s why we feel so strongly. I did appreciate your editorial, Mr. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 04-29-00.html7/1/2011