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MRS. KOBAYASHI : When we started hearing the <br /> testimonies, I was fairly undecided about representative <br /> districts, as to all districts, or all at-large. I think <br /> it was in Kona where one of the people testified saying, <br /> what if your district representative is not able to service <br /> you? Then you have NO representation. This is why I <br /> thought the idea of district plus at-large would be a <br /> better solution. So, if you couldn ' t work with your <br /> district representative you would have a representative <br /> at-large, and, hopefully, he would listen to you. You <br /> would not be without anybody to represent you, if you went <br /> 5 districts. If you went 6 district representation and <br /> you couldn ' t get any response from your own district, you <br /> would really be lost. But, if you have the combination , <br /> you would have a second chance, maybe. Even if the term <br /> is for two years--two years is a long time for not being <br /> able to get anything done. So, as far as I am concerned, <br /> it is the numbers I am not sure about. I am for districts <br /> and at-large, but, I am not sure about the numbers. <br /> Whether it should be seven or nine. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: If we go into a situation as <br /> you have just proposed, Akira, the 7 situation with 5 <br /> districts and 2 at-large, and have a residential require- <br /> ment for the 2 at-large, East-West, what would that serve? <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Well , for one thing, the complaints <br /> when Councilman Kawahara was out for four or five months, <br /> and if your councilman was ill , theoretically, we would <br /> have a representative in the county council. I didn ' t mean <br /> that as a proposal, though. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: No, when I say propose, I am <br /> just using it very informally. <br /> Stuart, would I be correct to say that if we are <br /> looking to districting, now, we are restricted to this <br /> representative district? There is no other form of <br /> districting we can really look into? Other than what we <br /> have? <br /> MR. ODA: Strict districting? More or less, you <br /> are tied to this. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: We are kind of tied as of right <br /> now. <br /> MR. ODA: The other one you can consider is the <br /> present one, with the at-large. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: We are kind of limited to what <br /> we have now. <br /> MR. ODA: That' s right. The reason is that you <br /> cannot use the present districts, Puna, Kohala and all that <br /> kind of thing because of the population differential. The <br /> disparity is too great. <br /> -8- <br />