HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0785.006 2022-2024 P/&OEA,G
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COMM.185
From: Julia Alos
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 12:09 PM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Kimball, Heather; Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Lee Loy, Sue; Inaba, Holeka; Kagiwada,Jennifer;
Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley;Villegas, Rebecca; Galimba, Michelle M.
Subject: OPPOSITION TO HI COUNTY BILL 143, SUGGESTED REVISIONS &CALL FOR ACROSS-
THE-ISLAND HYBRID TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS WITH MORE TRANSPARENCY
Julia Abs
PO Box 383595 L .
Waikoloa, HI 96738
April 1, 2024 (12:08 pm)
TO: HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Chair — Council Member Cindy Evans; Vice Chair — Council Member Susan Lee
Loy and Committee Members
Hearing: Tuesday, April 2, 2024— 1PM
OPPOSITION TO HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL BILL 143, SUGGESTED REVISIONS
& CALL FOR ACROSS-THE-ISLAND HYBRID TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS WITH
MORE TRANSPARENCY
Bill as drafted: INITIATES AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 3-2, OF
THE HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER( 2022 EDITION), RELATING TO COUNTY
COUNCIL TERMS
I wish to express strong objection to this Bill 143 as drafted. There have been numerous
occasions where voters resoundingly rejected any change in terms and limits, and this Bill
should not be allowed to be considered without seeking a broader swath of voters to
decide your terms, not just you as Council members and a few that will actually testify in
opposition of it as drafted. Most recently, when this came up, many residents here on
Hawai'i Island spoke in opposition of this during the review and update of the County
Charter review. NO WAY, it looks like a huge self-serving power grab especially when
the extension is tied to extending current terms from 8 consecutive years to up to a total of
12 consecutive years and potentially up to 16 to 18 years for those with existing terms and
re-elected in 2024. r,,
Comm. N � 0 J W
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Ref. Date R.
We see first hand in US Congress, no term limits and the damage it does with "selfish
career politicians" in very powerful positions and honestly feel it doesn't bode well with
many voters in many states, its laughable honestly, and slim margin of voters are
outnumbered as the minority and of course these officials won't allow their NO term
limits to ever change. Although Hawai'i County Bill 143 amendment to Article III,
Section 3-2 of the Hawai'i County Charter of 2022, limits yours but seeks to increase your
term, it seems very self-serving.
I realize the "pains" newly elected officials must endure because they are not up to speed
on many fronts with regards to the genuine concerns their district has, and a "change of
the guard, orientation, etc. handover week" should take place and include an orientation
of sorts for this transition to be smooth and near seamless for the newly elected to set them
and your district up for success moving forward. I do not see this happening and it is very
important at all levels in our County government.
I urge this bill be at the very least be revised to change terms to two 4-year terms for a
maximum total of 8 years to match term limits in place for the US President, Hawai'i
Governor and Hawai'i County Mayor and not one term or year more.
Please also amend the language to delete reference entirely to allowing an automatic
extension of current terms.
Elections are an essential element and critical opportunity for voters to review and
evaluate the track record of our elected representative and discuss with them critical
issues and opportunities. Longer terms, and fewer opportunities to engage in these
conversations and — in effect— reducing the opportunity for a "report card"-like
assessment of performance (aka, an election), would not serve the voters of our island
well.
Trust and accountability are huge issues in today's complex world and contentious public
policy environment. This bill as currently written would further erode public trust by
reducing accountability.
If the council deems this a policy change worthy of further consideration, then
immediately schedule a hybrid town hall in each of the nine Council Districts to secure
direct voter feedback before finalizing the measure of this Bill 143 specifically amending
this Article III, Section 3-2 as related to County Council Terms.. Council meetings during
workdays with — to be honest— rather little public notice, are not adequate and not pono
for such an important matter impacting our community's critically important public
policy representation. While I would prefer deferring this bill entirely— at the very least,
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amend the bill and then schedule a series of hybrid town halls in each Hawai'i Council
District before taking further action.
Mahalo for your time to read my thoughts and opposition to this Hawai'i County Council
Bill 143 as it has been drafted.
Respectfully,
Julia Alos
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