HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0478.003 1996-1998
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September 16, 1997
' RECEIVED
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Date __~11LL4_Z.~_,..~
Honorable Aaron S. Y. Chung, Chair -,_~couny. council ~'c
Committee of Finance
and Members of the County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Draft Bill For An Ordinance Initiating a Hawaii County Charter
Amendment (1991 Edition as amended) Relating to The Police
Department
Dear Mr. Chung and Members of the County Council:
Thank you for your letter dated September 3, 1997 addressed to me as the Chair of the Police
Commission and the copy of the Draft Bill.
Since the Police Commission will not meet until September 12, 1997 to discuss this draft bill, I
am here today as a private citizen and a member of the Police Commission but not on behalf of
the Police Commission.
Section 7-2.2. Statement of Hiring Policy. This is a very good policy and sets the high
standards that we all want in our government.
Why are we only setting these high standards for the Police Department? Should we not have
this same policy in every department of our County?
Section 7-2.4. Political Activities Prohibited. This section very clearly violates my First
Amendment rights. As a private citizen, I want to serve my community. This means voting,
working to elect candidates that I feel believe in the same issues I do, working for or against
issues that impact us, participating in business and community organizations and serving on a
boards or commissions.
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Honorable Aaron S. Y. Chung, Chair
Committee of Finance
September 16, 1997
Page 2
Why have you specifically taken the Police Commission out of political involvement? There
are other Commissions that select the department administrator. Why not prohibit the Water
Commission, the Liquor Commission, and the Civil Service Commission.
In fact, why not just prohibit members of all boards and commissions? Maybe we should also
prohibit anyone who has been involved in any campaign from being a County employee.
How far reaching is this? Since my husband and I own our businesses jointly and all of our
bank accounts are joint, does this mean that he is also prohibited from involvement in any
political campaign?
If your concern is the appointees to the Police Commission, you have the final word. The
appointment is made by the Mayor but must be confirmed by the Council. If you are not happy
with an appointee, don't confirm the appointment.
I think that the members we all want to serve on our boards and commissions are people in our
community who are involved -whether it is a campaign for a particular candidate or an issue
That is facing our community. We should want people who know and care about what is
happening in our community. People that come from all backgrounds whether ethnic, district,
employment, union member, business owner or retiree.
I can assure that the members of the Police Commission fit these categories. We all have
different backgrounds, different candidates and issues we support, different opinions, and
different ideas. No one controls and no one is controlled.
I ask that you reconsider this prohibition. I would hate to have to decide whether to stay on the
Police Commission or get involved in a political campaign for the candidate of my choice.
Thank you for your time.
SHARON K. SCH ELE