CHC 1979-06-12 SUBCOMMITTEE - Laserfiche WebLink

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MR. OMONAKA: Do we need to put a specific time or just say that as long as he is a legal resident in the district. That should suffice. MR. ODA: You don ' t have to put a time on that, the thing is that it might be a good idea if you put a time on it for the reason that it would avoid last minute change of residences between the district for advantage. For any kind of political advantage it might like, for example, say one official decides to resign and take a state position and there is an immediate opening in that district. So I mean this applies to even the county level. Then, all of a sudden, somebody decides he is going to move there, the night before nominations close. Theoretically, it is possible. You can put a minimum of residence requirements, 3 months or whatever. Even six, you know, some kind of minimum time. It ' s not really necessary. I wouldn' t say it is going to make any. . .you know, it just prevents somebody from making a last minute move for political advantage. MRS. KOBA.YASHI : What is a minimum? Would 6 months be too much? Because, to me, if you are going by district, the whole principle of a district representation is that the person understands the problems and really knows what his district needs. If you've only lived there one week, or one month, can you really say that you know the problems? Of course, you can always argue it the other way, too. The know who they' re electing. But,should y g , I would be for something. I would be for a year if it is constitutional. MR. OMONAKA: Yes, I would favor one year residence. Be consistent all the way around and say one year. MRS. KOBAYASHI : Would that hold up? MR. ODA: What bothers me about that is that one year as a total county residence to run for elective office. . .and if that person, within that year, moves once, from one district to another he is prevented from running from a district, already. Frankly, I don ' t think that is fair. When you look at it that way. Because people, when they first move here, move just to find housing. I know, I did. I came here in 1972 and needed a place to stay and then once I got familiar with the community then I moved. MRS. KOBAYASHI : Did you move a district? MR. ODA: Yes, I did, from the 2nd to the 1st Representative District. I didn ' t know that was a change in district but it just so happened it changed. And not with the intention of any political advantage or anything, or voting preference, or anything like that. I think it has to be analyzed, that kind of angle, too. That is why I say, the district residencies probably should be less than the total county residencies. -2- � J