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MR. SENSANO: Mr. Nagasako. On the purely <br /> district representation, I don ' t know whether you mentioned <br /> it here, presently the district representatives on the council <br /> are also elected by the rest of the island. Would you eliminate <br /> that portion so that a person running from a district will only <br /> be voted by the voters of that district? <br /> MR. NAGASAKO: Yes, certainly, that is the plan. <br /> In other words, as we elect state representatives only the <br /> voters of the district concernedhave a choice in voting or <br /> voting for the state representative. In other words , it is a <br /> pure or direct district representation. What we have now is <br /> I would say a hybrid or compromise plan. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Mr. Nagasako. Under your proposal <br /> would it be possible that the four at-large candidates could <br /> be elected from just one general area? Say, Hilo versus none <br /> from Kona, as an example? <br /> MR. NAGASAKO: Yes, there is no question the <br /> reality that at the present three members of the council at-large <br /> do come from one particular district, namely, the most populated <br /> district in the island. However, the point I am trying to <br /> emphasize is that unlike a generation or two ago with improved <br /> communication and improved transportation, the problems are <br /> becoming not only national in scope, but international in scope. <br /> We have to expand. We have to encourage our elected leaders <br /> and also, we, ourselves, should develop a broad perspective. <br /> Certainly a Big Island perspective. So whether our councilmen <br /> come from one particular district like Hilo, in the present case, <br /> but--if I am not mistaken , the gold coast of Kona or the District <br /> of Kona is more rapidly growing than the Hilo district. Therefore, <br /> I see distinctly within the next decade or so population shifts <br /> and so on. I hope in terms of voting strength that the island <br /> will become more equally balanced. I certainly hope so. I feel <br /> that with that type of expectation on the part of all of us we <br /> will help our councilmen no matter where they come from. They <br /> will be responsive to the needs of any district and every district <br /> on this island. <br /> MR. TRULSON: Mr. Nagasako. Are you aware that <br /> in your proposal that one of the present council seats would be <br /> lost if you went to representative districts? In other words , I <br /> believe the Waimea councilman ' s position today would be <br /> eliminated under your proposal. <br /> MR. NAGASAKO: Yes , I do realize that. Of course, <br /> the reason I am proposing the council district to be identical <br /> with the state representative district is that we talk about not <br /> duplicating effort, we talk about economy and so forth. . .Let ' s <br /> have the state reapportionment commission carry out the task for <br /> us and the expense for us . Incidentally, in terms of reappor- <br /> tioning districts and setting boundaries , that is not a simple <br /> matter. R'egardless of who does it, : how we do it, I believe district <br /> boundaries are very controversial. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Mr. Nagasako. How do you feel about <br /> four at-large being split say two from West Hawaii using the <br /> historical boundaries that we have that wereunder the board of <br /> supervisors , and maybe two from the East Hawaii boundaries? <br /> -5- <br />