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The system I advocate is for the six distric seats , Kona, Kau, Kohala, Hilo, Puna, and Hamakua to be elected by their respec- tive districs . The 3 remaining council seats would run-at- large. Each distric council member would truely represent an equal number of residents and it would truly be "one man, one vote" , with each distric council member accountable and directly responsible to their resident distric and their constituents . The 3 at-large council persons would oversee & shoulder responsiblity and accountability county-wide. I urge you to study this issue carefully, including educating the public about single member districs and careful wording with actual examples , should it be placed on the ballot. With regards to initiative powers , I am requesting that this be left in the charter and that initiative powers be allowed for all matters . As you may know, the State Supreme Court pointed out the conflicts between vague language with re- gards to iniative(in the Sandy Beach situation) , verses explicit language allowing the county council the power to zone. This conflict and prevailing language for this statue will be ad- dressed and decided in next years legislature; since the Charter Review Commission meets only once every 10 years , it is impera- tive that initiative powers be left in our Charter. To have a successful iniative requires that 15% of our popu- lation that voted in the last mayoral election, sign a peti- tion to place that item on the ballot. This is a very difficult proceedure, and anytime you acquire that percentage of valid voter6 signatures , there is a very good reason for that iniative to be on that ballot. It does not neccessarily mean that the iniative will pass . . . .but it points out that a certain amount of voters are concerned, for whatever reason. And it allows the people their RIGHT to vote , with the majority ruling; our government 611 is based on this- concept!' It"s an excellent checks and balance system for our elected officials ; it allows the people to right to recti- fy poor decisions or laws . And after all, our government, elected officials and even our charter is suppossed to represent the true will of the people. -P.3 . -