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Mr. Kimiaki Sakata, Chairman Hawaii County Charter Commission 25 Aupuni St. Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 Dear Commissioners, The following is respectfully submitted for your consideration. In our collective National wisdom, the members of the United States Congress, who represents districts, are elected every two (2) years. These members of the House of Representatives are faced with making decisions on complex issues which are national and international in scope. However, the overriding need to have the U.S. Congress be responsive to the people of the nation makes 2 years the optimum period for the election of a Congressman. In our collective State-wide wisdom, the members of the State legislature, who represent the smaller of the State legislative districts, are elected every two (2) years. The State Representatives are faced with making decisions on issues which are State-wide in complexity. However, the overiding need to have the State Legislature be responsive to the people of the State of Hawaii makes 2 years the optimum period for the election of a State Representative. The Hawaii County Councilmen, who are elected from proposed districts., are faced with local issues which are district-wide or county-wide in complexity. Therefore, there are no overriding reasons why their term of office should be any longer than the 2 year term of office of the State Representative or the National Congressman. A term of office of 2 years for the District Councilman will enable the people to exercise the power of their votes over the County legislative process more effectively, will greatly enhance communication between the District Councilmen and the people of their respective districts, and will make the Hawaii County Council more responsive to the people of the County of Hawaii. The tentative decision by the Commission subcommittee to adopt a plan with 5 District Councilmen is a step in the right direction towards creating a County Council which is responsive to the people of each district. The combining of the District Councilmen with four (4) At-large Councilmen will enable each voter to vote for a majority of the Councilmen. This will give the people of each district effective representation on the County Council because decisions are made by majority vote. The County Charter provides the framework for the power structure for the County legislative process. That framework must be designed so that the voters of each district will have the power to guide the destiny of their own district. The most effective form of this power is the power to vote for a�tleast the majority of the Councilmen. COMM. NO;Yo <urs truly„ C -mom eck June 9, 1979 Has ,T ki Kawasaki P.O. Box 81 Capt. Cook, HI,96704