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MRS. KOBAYASHI : Richard, how did you mean • <br /> staggered terms would bring accountability? <br /> MR. ISHIDA: The reason I say it brings <br /> accountability is because the issues are raised every two <br /> years. At -least the members who are in office who are not <br /> running during the year of election, at least, they are <br /> informed what the principle issues are. <br /> MRS. KOBAYASHI : Couldn ' t you use the same <br /> argurizent for the four year term for at-large and the two year <br /> term for district , then, because you h.ay.e an election every <br /> two years anyway? <br /> MR. ISHIDA: No. My position is that I <br /> believe for efficiency each council member should be in office <br /> for four years. If they run every two years , I jus€ feel that <br /> just when they are ready to really help the county they are <br /> back out on the road again trying to be looking for votes <br /> again. I don ' t think they can be very objective that way. <br /> That is the only thing as ".I -see it. <br /> MR. SCHUTTE : Richard, also the House of <br /> Representatives all run for two years. The State House and <br /> the U.Sa <br /> MR. ISHIDA: But we have a bicameral legislature. <br /> I think there is a distinction there. <br /> MR. SCHUTTE : Why? <br /> MR. ISHIDA: Because we have one body, the <br /> legislature, who serve four year terms but in the county level <br /> we only have one body. <br /> MR. SCHUTTE : . . .what I am trying to get at , => _ <br /> on <br /> the.arg-umnen•.t of= the basis of just getting in and having to <br /> get out, you know, if you look at the State House or the U. S. <br /> House, they are in for two years. Dollar-wise it costs them <br /> a heck of a lot of money to run just for two years. If you <br /> are talking about continuity, that may be something else. <br /> I don ' t know really what to say to help you. I understand <br /> you have a problem. I 'm trying. <br /> MR. TRULSON: Mr. Ishida. Are you trying to <br /> say that you would feel better with seven councilmen with <br /> four year terms and those four year terms staggered? <br /> MR. ISHIDA: To me, it would be better, yet <br /> I have a question of feasibility of doing that. You know, <br /> having three run one year and four run one year. Maybe that <br /> is a minor distinction that I am trying to make. <br /> MR. SCHUTTE : The problem I can think that you <br /> may run up against, Richard , is that if you were_ .to try to <br /> stagger that in that respect, you ;wouId have essentially one <br /> district councilman - to run a short term and another district <br /> may run a long term. . . . I don ' t think you would have anybody <br /> volunteer. . . <br /> -21- <br />