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MR. YAMASHIRO: I think it is. Because if you don 't <br /> have any district representative if the four best people that <br /> win the support of all the people of this island happen to be <br /> in one district, be it the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, those four <br /> people with no artificial barriers have been selected. That ' s <br /> what I 'msaying. If we are having true at-large representation, <br /> let us not set up any artificial barriers. Let the four people <br /> who get the best votes, who are selected by the people of this <br /> county prevail , wherever they live. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: If you are living in the rural area:and <br /> if you don ' t have a business to fall to or a good law practice <br /> to follow through, it ' s pretty hard for you to run. If you're <br /> a businessman in a centrally populated area, your chances of <br /> running for politics would be greater than someone from in the <br /> rural areas. So that does not necessarily mean the best guys <br /> will be running for office. <br /> MR. YAMASHIRO: The best people that appear on the <br /> ballot will be selected. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Not your statement, the best people <br /> will get elected. . . <br /> MR. YAMASHIRO: No, the best people that offer <br /> themselves for election. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: This would preclude a lot of people from <br /> the rural areas if they feel they can ' t lean on their business <br /> to support them to run. . . <br /> MR. YAMASHIRO: I don ' t think any of us can afford <br /> to, Mr. Omonaka. You can look at what sacrifices have been <br /> made. I think I 'm the only one with a $1 ,500 part-time job <br /> that ' s costing me $3,000 to maintain. We all make sacrifices <br /> but that ' s the determination of the individual. If he wants <br /> to make public service his life, he has to make that choice. <br /> And whatever reason he does it for, his ego, his self-satisfaction, <br /> that ' s his choice. The thing is , we're trying to make this <br /> system accountable to as many people. . .to be as broadly repre- <br /> sentative as possible. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: So, Mr. Yamashiro, then , if I really <br /> was concerned with county government, which is closest to the <br /> people, it should be easiest for the guy to participate and <br /> we should make it so that everybody gets a relatively even chance <br /> whenever they run for any office. <br /> MR. YAMASHIRO: Mr. Omonaka, I think everyone has an <br /> even chance. If you have 5 representative districts, everyone <br /> will have a chance. They can make that selection or they can <br /> make it. . . <br /> MR. OMONAKA: You're talking about sacrifices and <br /> things like that. Some people living in a certain area will <br /> have ace=xtain advantage,- this is what I 'm talking about. People <br /> running at-large, if you come from a heavier population the <br /> advantages will be there. <br /> -11- <br />