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CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: Why don 't we look at the present <br /> system where we have 6 individuals representing districts, <br /> and 3 at-large, but all running island wide. Does anybody <br /> want to speak for or against? Are there any advantages why <br /> we should consider that? Maybe retain that? Does anybody <br /> have any feelings, in our hearings, as to whether we should <br /> retain our present system? <br /> MR. OMONAKA: I believe regarding the present system <br /> that, by and large, the majority of the testimony, including <br /> several meetings that I have attended--and other clubs and <br /> union meetings--they tend to favor a more district form of <br /> representation to the council . So, I would not be in favor <br /> of retaining our present setup as it is now. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: Most of the comments have been that <br /> they seem to want at least some aspect of strict districting. <br /> MR. SAKATA: Richard, if we do go by district we will <br /> have to set up the districts differently from the present, <br /> right? <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: Yes, I think that we will probably <br /> have to. I ' ll tell you, frankly, I think the difficulty we are <br /> going to be faced with is nothing has come in from the public <br /> as far as concrete recommendations. They have just been <br /> speaking in terms of very generally, we want districting. The <br /> only thing that has really come up concrete, I think, ,is what <br /> the West Hawaii Committee came up with based on registration. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Why don ' t we proceed on the basis of <br /> concept? Do we want an at-large concept? If we rule that <br /> out, then do we want a strict districting? If we rule that <br /> out, obviously, we are going to a more defined district, and <br /> we can have some discussion there. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: Yes, that is a very good idea. <br /> I think we should eliminate that point, right. Why don ' t we <br /> review then, as far as the testimony that we have had concerning <br /> whether strict districting as opposed to, probably, the other <br /> extreme, completely at-large. I am assuming, of course, from <br /> the basis of the testimonies, just to narrow it up a little, <br /> the complete at-large type of situation is not acceptable. <br /> That is where everybody runs at-large with no district desig- <br /> nation, whatsoever. I think that was kind of clear. So, <br /> probably, the extreme position as far as the closest to the <br /> at-large representation, I think our present system where we <br /> have 3 definitely at-large and then 6 districting, yet they are <br /> running at-large. Probably, that is one extreme. Then the <br /> other extreme would be strict districting where the numbers <br /> would be determined later. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: In terms of strict districting, I think <br /> we are going to have our hands full in terms of carving out <br /> boundaries and even in terms of the number of councilmen we <br /> should have. So it is going to be a nightmare for us in terms <br /> of setting up districts. <br /> -3- <br />