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charter editorial • '
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<br /> FOR PAGE ONE,TUES AUG,7 ',
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<br /> Of all the plans under consideration by the.County •
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<br /> Charter Review Commission for organizing the County,' • 1a6 `•;-..y,-,...r, ••:
<br /> Council,the so-called district-only option is clearly one of, , ., ': i' ''-,;-0,_.; `I
<br /> the alternatives that.should be offered to the.voters for n
<br /> their approval or disapproval: • . •;
<br /> The district-only plan—'provides for nine. council • ,-
<br /> N.
<br /> members,.each elected from,a separate district. Each
<br /> district would be roughly equal in population:The council ', e
<br /> members would be elected for two-year terms. There ", ,
<br /> would be no more at-large members. .' ; - _ _ ._
<br /> The plan would go into' full effect in 1984, after a •/
<br /> reapportionment commission has drawn the boundaries, • -
<br /> of the nine districts'based on the results of the 1980 census: • •
<br /> In the meantime,-the nine council,members would be
<br /> elected from the four existing legislative districts: three
<br /> • from Hilo and two each from the other three districts. - , "•'f=.1'- --.0s •• 1
<br /> We say the district-only plan is the-'fairestt•for all the - • _',
<br /> people of this island for the following reasons: "` • , :
<br /> 1.The district-only proposal most closely meets the one- r ' ` • • 4
<br /> man, one-vote standard established by the U.S. Supreme • ,,TM } ' • , • ` `:
<br /> Court. Under this;plan: the'vote of.every resident on the , , Pti
<br /> Big Island will carry nearly the same weight.
<br /> •2.•The district-only plan brings government closest to'' • - ,. r .:•4
<br /> the people: the smaller districts will give voters a better
<br /> chance to get to know the candidates and to-discuss-the -,4- ., • ,, a
<br /> issues with them. •' .,• , .• ,L '
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<br /> 3. The district-only plan will-malice the politicians more' �"�
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<br /> accountable to the peoplo''beeause-all the'emincil menj-. , _ - 4 i
<br /> bers will face election every two years. • '
<br /> 4.The district only plan will.make it possible for people. :•,:`:
<br /> without big organizations and large campaign treasuies '- -• '
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<br /> to run for office with a reasonable hope of success,4; -
<br /> because the Small districts will permit the candidatesito" _`, •_
<br /> have personal visits and discussions with the voters. -
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<br /> 5.The district only plan will matte it.diEficult for special 1,1
<br /> interest groups to' control:the_candidates'•becau'se the - ' .!,. " )
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<br /> districts will be small enough for candidates, to win ,
<br /> without the help of special interests. Moreover, if a ' ' . '<4',; • • $`=
<br /> candidate is aligned with a.special interest group, it u'..z-•"--":-. ,. • 4�
<br /> would be hard toconceal that•'fact i'ri•.a_small district '
<br /> where people are closer together'and'know more ab,otit
<br /> each other. The voters can then decide whether they ;
<br /> 'c.
<br /> approve-Tor disapprove of any alliance a candidate may - , . ^ ,
<br /> have:wit+.-ai cial'i_nthredt'group•.:,''--' , ,, :?i�;., e" .�L.�.' ' •', ;r.,
<br /> 6. In the council, the nine members would bargain-on" -•-f, • -fit `
<br /> projects for their separate districts from nearly equal
<br /> positions;•of political ,strength.' This plan`. does ;not ',;,.••;,.-- -, „ ;.,
<br /> guarantee fair results-none:of the plans'can do that.But •' s•
<br /> it does offer the best chance of•fair results•simply beca'usei - i •' ,: '
<br /> each member has about the same amount of clout, - r”
<br /> whereas the other plans-provide advantaged to council •x '•'
<br /> members'who are elected_from'larger;districts-or at
<br /> large or for longer terms. .._ R - •'" •2� .`Y.
<br /> 7. The district-only plan is the only option that provides - '
<br /> for two-year terms-for all council members. This is. ` F
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<br /> particularly important in the coming years because the ` - •i• 1'
<br /> County Council will soon be given'the full authority to t43.•,_t' . • - ' '•
<br /> real property, which affects not just property owners but . '_
<br /> nearlyeveryresident. This ina'or increase in ower' 8•'
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<br /> should be accompanied.,by shorter terms, (the:present -+ • $ -,,;'y • Iti_::-'i
<br /> :council is elected for four ear erin t).so that the'oters '
<br /> Y t_ s . -r,
<br /> can exerci a iprereontrolover•tl�eir own taxe';. , . , . • : ' j
<br /> s:'The di sc;orr y,pl n i'sta+s.fair t,thio as rt.is to west' • lZ +
<br /> •',"-:'...A:
<br /> >;lawau:•It is a•4equitable today as it will be 50 years frpm f.;;
<br /> today because it,,gives nearly',equal.,weightto every vote• , •i-". • j:
<br /> P in the county. ,•,, ,p4 o a . : :s
<br /> -. , :We strongly urge the Charter Commission,which m'ust;-.'
<br /> make its final decision this week;`'to,put,the'distiitt�oury • s, • . • .,,,,
<br /> plaq,on the November ballot , ,. `
<br /> .. ' V> rs,� ,'
<br /> -... - .�av�ai..,ro,rs-,::m+iarw.�.J `M �• `�.--...__. .V..,�,.�: 'ralt'.a.v., u
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