CHC 1979-04-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MR. BARTSCH: Gentlemen, we felt that the one man, one district concept is probably fairer to the individual citizen and the voter. We _fe;it:` that he would get better attention from his representative. We felt that the nine districts would give good representation. It would make, probably, a better climate to run for office in and less expensive. You are more accountable to your constituents. We feel that the at-large member is more subject to party politics, group pressures and this sort of thing whereby lobbying can influence and at-large members can be elected through special interest groups. We didn ' t feel that this was in the best interest of the general population. However, in Kona, in the particular circumstances of Kona now wherethe population is somewhat questionable it really could work in the Kona favor. Because the population can control the at- large member which, of course, reapportionment would take care of when there are fixed districts. So that we really do feel that better representation is given to the voters of the island through voting for their representative by district rather than at-large. That was the rationale. MR. ISHIDA: One more question, Mr. Bartsch. Item 10--there has been the issue raised that should the department head be appointed and be subject to ratification and confirmation by the county council and also the fact that should .the removal of the department head be subject to county council action also--that the department heads are facing a position of having two masters. There has been some discussion that this might not be a favorable, feasible thing as far as the operation of the administration of the county government. Would you expand on that as to why the Chamber recommends that the appointments and removals be ratified by the county council . I assume that the appointments are to be made by the mayor and removal initiated by the mayor and 'then to be ratified by the county council. Would you expand as to the rationale of the Chamber ' s thoughts. MR. BARTSCH: The agency and/or department head would be--the recommendation for his position would be-- by the mayor, approved by the council. Removed by the mayor and approval of that removal by the council. The idea being that the legislative body of the government has very little teeth. They can develop the things that we need around the island and they can suggest to the administration but to always have the administration get that process done doesn 't seem to always work. When that doesn ' t work it is up to the constit- uency, the people, to either approach the administration or .the legislature to request that this type of thing be done. When you approach through the legislator-,- it is sometimes harder for him to make a direct approach to that department head and/or his group and get the work done. The assumption being that he is _ a legislator. Not an administrator and, therefore, the ad- Ministration would _carry. the power and he should go throughother channels. We are not sure that that is a bad situation. :But we feel that possibly the availability of the councilman to give approval to that vote might let the person think well maybe I should at least find out from my boss if we should do this or not. It ' s quasi, yes. We are in tune with that. We are looking for some help for you as well. - 18 -