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e-ka e_T e 1L r-e vt Al(S srl�N <br /> i61111-1 ,' <br /> Mr. Chairman and Members of The Charter Commission: <br /> I was one of the six Charter Commissioners who voted for a Seven Member County <br /> Council - five to be elected from the four Representative Districts on this <br /> island and two at-large. <br /> In my humble opinion a seven person Council can do as effective a job for our <br /> people as can a nine person Council. <br /> Quantity, in my estimation, is not the answer to our Council woes. It is the <br /> quality of the men and women we elect to represent us that is of prime impor- <br /> tance. <br /> While I still believe that a seven person Council is the best for this County, <br /> ' .I also-kriow that only a fool, or a very strong headed individual, would not <br /> .change his mind if a compromise is required on an issue - but not on a princi- <br /> ple. <br /> And to me the member composition of the Council is an issue - not a principle. <br /> I frankly admit that my second choice for our Council make-up would have been <br /> a nine person Council: five to be elected from the four Representative Districts <br /> and four-at-large: <br /> two from West Hawaii and two from East Hawaii. <br /> The West Hawaii Boundary would be. from Kalil to Kona, including Kohala and <br /> Waimea; and <br /> The East Hawaii Boundary would encompass the area from Waipio Valley to <br /> the Volcano. <br /> Such a nine person Council would have given West Hawaii a three person <br /> representation. <br /> But in order to give Kona what. West Hawaii spokesmen say is "fair representation" <br /> and to eliminate the charges levelled by them at the Charter Commission, I am <br /> prepared to disregard my second option. <br /> I, therefore, Mr. Chairman will support the submittal of two proposals for action <br /> by our voters. <br /> These two proposals are: <br /> 1. The Seven person Council we approved on a 6-5 vote, and <br /> 2. A nine person Council — each Council person to be elected from a duly <br /> apportioned district. <br /> The submittal of these two proposals will give the voters of this County the <br /> opportunity of selecting the one they believe will give them the best representa- <br /> tion possible. <br /> COMM. NO. <br />