HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1104.001 2004-2006
Murashige, Laura
From: Lillian [Russellr004@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 7:50 AM
To: Ikeda, Donald; Isbell, Virginia; Hoffmann, Pete; Arakaki, James; Jacobson, Bob, Safarik,
Gary; Pilago, K. Angel; Higa, Stacy
Cc: Dwight Takamine; Helene Hale; Clift Tsuji; Russell Kokubun; Lorraine Inouye; Paul Whalen,
Jerry Chang, Robert Herkes; Josh Green; Cindy Evans, Joshua Green; Harry Kim
Subject: Fw: Resolution 474-06, introduced by Ms. Isbell
Aloha concerned citizens:
Mr. Blann is correct. So is the deputy registrar of elections. We are only one election
away from a total vote fraud. It may already be too late. We
need to wake up and vote and urge passage of RESOLUTION 474-06. Please
make your representative aware that you are aware of what is going on here and that West
Hawaii needs EQUAL REPRESENTATION.... be it voting registration kiosks, better use of our
tax dollars or anything else you may find unjust. Please let your representatives know. I
just did by forwarding on to everyone I know and the County Council.
Mahalo
Lillian Fox
Original Message
From: "blann" <blann@verizon.net>
To: <blann@gte.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 7:52 PM
Subject: Fw: Resolution 474-06, introduced by Ms. Isbell
> From: "blann" <blannOverizon.net>
> To: <counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us>
> Cc: "Mayor Harry Kim" <cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 7:48 PM
> Subject: Resolution 474-06, introduced by Ms. Isbell
Aloha County Council,
One of the things the USA prides itself on is the concept of the
free and fair election . I was therefore very unhappy to find that
Hawaii County has the elections office with 12 full time Mall
employees in a $103,000/annum high visibility retail location with
stated purpose of registering voters and increasing absentee voting
in Hilo, but with similar programs nowhere else in the county.
Our tax dollars are being used solely to enhance the voting power of
Hilo vs. the rest of the county, rather than as part of a county wide
voter enhancement program.
I estimate the salaries and overhead at around $1,000,000/ annum.
If in the future, a Council person from Hilo were to run for Mayor,
the question could be raised as to whether he engineered this voter
registration program for personal benefit. Let us not put the County
Government in the awkward position of anyone raising such questions.
we do note that in the primary election just passed, the Kuhio
location had seven times the absentee vote of the average of the
other 4 polls; a 600% increase! Clearly this is not a fair election,
and renewal of this lease will make results even more uneven,
possibly subjecting the county government to complaints to the US Dept.
Justice under the
2002 Help America Vote Act, and or the state Ethics Commission.
I therefore request that the Council consider one of two options.
The Kuhio Mall space has 12 full time employees, occupies 5,000 sq.
ft., and is open 40 hours /week, except during absentee voting when
it opens 48 hours (equalled nowhere else in the county).
I propose amending the Resolution to include 100 sq. ft. kiosks (10 ' 'I1
foot Comm. No.- q J-
square) in Kona Ref. To•PreseeiK
t Ref. Dote„CCT 16?
at Costco,Walmart, Lanihou center, and Keauhou Plaza, to be staffed
by temporary employees or volunteers provided by the County, 40 hours
week, 48 hours/ week during walk-in voting. Other districts should
be consulted as to what they feel would help level the playing field
to give a more nearly fair election, and these requests should be
included in the amended resolution. It is not clear to me why Council
is in such a rush to pass this resolution, which could lead to
serious embarassment to the County. It will, in present form, surely
increase the deep cynicism with which many of our citizens view the
electoral process in our county- perhaps one reason for record low
voter turnouts.
Should the argument be made that the amendments I suggest would be
too costly, even though the cost would be but a fraction of the Kuhio
Mall Project expenses, I would offer a second option which would save
the county money. Move the Elections office to lower cost office
space not in a commercial retail center, and comparable to other
absentee locations. During absentee voting, as on election day, let
all polls be open the same hours. In this way, treat all citizens
equally in access to voting- as is required under federal law.
Thank you for your consideration. Please remember Confucius, who said,"
» I am never
» in a hurry for the wrong answer".
» Respectfully,
» Marshall Blann
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