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HIGASHI: I think the word `convoluted' may be a wrong word. I think we're <br />still striving to make sure that the Commissions that we addressed are represented <br />well, so the representation of making the Commission is to ensure that we still have <br />nine members, and they come from specific districts. So in the Commissions, so that it <br />doesn't get confused with the 6-3, or whatever, we took special consideration to make <br />sure that each Commission, where there is 9, can come from single member <br />districts that are now. Many of them are not. Some are seven under the old system. <br />Some are six historical districts and three at -large. And just let me add, the other idea <br />that I've heard people from Puna say, at least they have an opportunity to vote for four <br />Councilmen who may represent them. So, that's another way of looking at it. <br />GRAHAM: Yes, I understand that. We used to have the opportunity to vote for <br />nine. <br />HIGASHI: Right, right, right, right. <br />MARTIN: I guess to touch upon something you said earlier about the system <br />being broken. I don't think we looked at it as being broken. I, myself, looked at it as <br />being an opportunity to have change and giving the voters the opportunity, if in fact <br />they want the change. As you're saying, there may be a majority that doesn't want it, <br />and it'll not pass, no problem. As least give them the opportunity, and as our Chair has <br />mentioned earlier, once it does become final, it becomes a sale, right? And we have to <br />put this out in the manner that people are willing to accept it and understand it. I think <br />that's going to be the key. Whether they're for it or against it is going to be their <br />prerogative, but a good salesman can sell ice to an Eskimo, and that's what it comes <br />down to. <br />HOLSCHUH: Let me just ask a question. Fred Holschuh from Honokaa. I didn't <br />ask to testify but 1 was just curious. 1 understand a letter suggesting, and I'm not <br />suggesting this is the right way to do it, but I had heard about this letter that was sent, I <br />guess, to you and the Council about suggesting the districts be enlarged with two <br />representatives from each district, so there'd be four districts, creating eight people, <br />and then the Chair elected island -wide. Was that considered by the Commission, and <br />whatever happened to that idea, and is there still a possibility to consider that? <br />RAY: We talked about that from that standpoint, and I don't think <br />anybody thought that was a particularly good idea so there was no advocacy from <br />anybody here. I mean, there are lots of scenarios. You could use the Senate Districts <br />and go with three members from each Senate District. It's kind of a simple way to look <br />at it. What is being suggested now, by far, follows the more standard model throughout <br />the country that's employed. This is a pretty standard way of doing things, the six <br />single member and the three at -large, and the variation on that that the one person <br />island -wide be the Council Chair. A lot of folks go with the highest vote getter of the <br />at -large seats as the Council Chair, or the Mayor. So, that's a standard way, but I think <br />that's something we do need to point out. This is a very common way of organizing the <br />16 <br />