HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0153.002 1996-1998 1. T
Testimony to the Hawaii County Council On the Appointment of Mr. Takeya to
the Water Commission, Presented by Robert Ritter, March 19,1997
Aloha,
Robert Gottlieb wrote in his book, A Life of lts Own, The Politics and Power of
Water, 'Water policy touches our lives in an enormous number of ways. It affects
the water we drink and the food we eat. It is central to irrigation and urban
growth. It addresses water quality and toxicity associated with increasing kinds of
industrial hazards.....lt establishes in legal, political, and economic terms what to
some is sacred but to others is nothing more than a commodity to buy or sell,
transfer or lease. Control over water has ukimatety become tantamount to ~
controlling the destiny of the land and the people who settle on the land."
Because water is so important, I believe the committee should be faithful to ~
ArticleXlll, Section13-3 of the Hawaii County Charter which states, "No
appointing authority shall appoint any person to any office or position which is m
exempt from the civil service laws until satisfied by proper investigation that the ~ o
.
person to be appointed is fully qualfied by experience and abilities to perform the
duties of that office ° And, although the qualifications for this position are not
spelled out in detail in the Charter, it makes it clear that someone without `
experience or ability should not be appointed.
I would like to see the Council ask these questions. Mr. Takeya experienced or
educated in the history, management and politics of water? Does he have any
experience dealing with water issues? Does he have a working understanding of
hydrology, the properties and chemistry of water, the complexity of aquifers and
the disaster potential inherent in abusing them? Would he recognize and does
he realize the consequences of poor water policies?
The brief statement in the agenda for today states that Mr. Takeya has been a:
land broker for the past 25 years. In that time has he had, or does he currently
have relationships with developers or others that might present a conflict of
interest when the time comes to make decisions for the good of the public and/or
for the good of the environment? Will anyone unfairly profR from his appointment
or his voting? Is he willing to excuse himself from voting if and when any such
conflict of interest arises?
The answers to these questions that go to Mr. Takeya's experience and ability.
should be the deciding factors in his appointment, not partisan politics. Our
county, our citizens, our land, and our environment cannot afford mistakes that
wind up costing us dearly in the long run. Our county government cannot afford
the perception, real or imagined, that it is not adhering strictly to the County
Charter.
Mahalo
B1ie l~o.~..._~~~~~y~.lk!-l
Presenrad-
Lief. ~o._.
Itet. Thite_MAR
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