CHC 1979-06-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Because we are talking in terms of as much district representation as possible, I think then , to be consistent, we should give the reapportionment commission full authority to redistrict whatever they see fit as far as the nine members are concerned and not limit them whatsoever. Consequently, I think, if we really want to go along and give this county district representation, we should stick to the nine and just temporarily accept a five-four and then thereafter it is up to the reapportionment commission to do what it wants. If they want 9 single member districts, fine. But I think we should give them the opportunity to do that and we ought not to limit it. I hope I can convince you folks of that. , , MR. OMONAKA: Mr. Chairman. Richard;, then are you saying then', in essence, to allow the reapportionment committee to remake, so to speak , the county council? MR. ISHIDA: Yes , after thinking it over, I think that is the only way we can do it. MR. OMONAKA: And is it your intent to give them absolute powers to do this, despite the fact that we would like to keep a portion at district and a portion at-large? Then , in essence, %whet_ they will be doing is to rewrite the charter. MR. ISHIDA: Just on the reapportionment. MR. OMONAKA: Reapportionment simply means to fix boundaries so that we can have. . . MR. ISHIDA: It will strictly be reapportioning of boundaries but I want to open it up to all nine people. I :h-ave' wrestled with that problem over the week. I had some hesitancy as- far as giving them carte blanche authority to do that but after thinking it over, it seems that is the only way we can do it. The real problem that I was wrestling with was the fact that if we do give this reapportionment commission the full authority as written now in this present draft, there is really no check on them. In other words, when they come up with the decision , of course, they will have public hearings but once the decision is made and filed it becomes effective,, and it is not placed out to the electorate. This is the thing that bothered me and in spite of that I think I have kind of resolved it in my mind that if we are going to have a reapportionment committee, I think that we should give them the carte blanche authority to see the type of districting or representation as far as the number ;;is concerned. They would be limited, I submit, to what this charter says. If we say seven, fine, it would seven. If it,' s nine, fine, it would be nine, but no more. The only authority they will be given is drawing boundary lines and determining whether there will be all district or all at-large. I think that would consistent, would it not, counsel , as to validity? -12-