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MR. ISHIDA: Is there any basis upon which we <br /> could establish some residency requirement? <br /> MR. ODA: I think some kind of residency _is <br /> permissable. The question is, what is the rationale or the <br /> reason for the establishment of the residency requirement. <br /> MR. ISHIDA: I think the common rationale is <br /> that somebody who has lived here and is familiar with the <br /> county. Only the basis that unless a person has been living <br /> within the county, especially out in the Big Island, I don ' t <br /> see how he can say he is familiar with the intricacies, as <br /> far as this island is concerned. <br /> MR. ODA: I think the court cases have discussed <br /> that. They have sort of submerged that, or set aside that <br /> argument based on the fact that. . .two grounds, one, generally <br /> speaking, a person who is not familiar with the area, will not <br /> generally seek the election to begin with and, secondly, if <br /> he does, the electorate has the option of electing whomever they <br /> want. So whether they want to elect an ignorant person or a <br /> newcomer, or an old-timer, is left to their final choice. The <br /> courts have indicated that df-=that is what the voters want, it <br /> is up to them. That is the final protection and safeguard that <br /> is built-in. Whomever they elect they will have to accept, I <br /> guess, for the term of office. But they don ' t consider the <br /> mere fact that familiarity with the community or the problems <br /> are an insurmountable kind of thing. In fact, they don ' t even <br /> give that much consideration. <br /> MR. .ISHIDA: is there any basis upon which we <br /> can use residency requirements? Or are you telling us that <br /> any attempt to place any kind of requirement basis on residency <br /> is completely void? <br /> MR. ODA: As I say, unless you can have a very, ; <br /> very good reason , aside from just familiarity. <br /> MR. ISHIDA: I guess what I am asking you is <br /> what is that reason? <br /> MR. ODA: I don ' t know. <br /> MR. CADINHA: I ' ll submit one. Just for familiarity <br /> purposes, especially when you get down to district representation. <br /> MR. ODA: The courts don ' t give it that much <br /> weight as being :'important enough to be ,considered to satisfy the <br /> test. <br /> MR. CADINHA: It is not sufficiently important <br /> to have the person in the community for one year? So that he <br /> can be familiar with his constituents ' needs? <br /> MR. ODA: They are not saying that it is not <br /> sufficiently important, they are saying that there are other <br /> avenues whereby the public can be protected, such as , not even <br /> -4- <br />