HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 041 Draft 01 2006-2008 a
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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RESOLUTION NO. 41 ` ~
RESOLUTION URGING LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT PUBLICLY FUNDED
ELECTIONS.
WHEREAS, a democratic government derives its power from the consent of its citizens;
and
WHEREAS, corporate and other special interest donations account for the vast majority
of campaign donations; both locally and nationally; and
WHEREAS, voter participation among Hawaii constituents is the lowest in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, publicly funded elections hold politicians accountable to community
interests ratherthanto special interests; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive publicly funded campaign finance system such asvoter-
owned elections has opened up elections to fair competition and spiked voter participation in
cities in Maine, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and as many as four other states; and
WHEREAS, pono use of public resources, such as through a publicly funded campaign
system, serves to include large numbers of citizens, particularly women and minorities, in the
political process; and
WHEREAS, participants in publicly funded campaigns no longer need to spend the
majority of their time in office raising funds for the next campaign; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Issues Caucus further includes Hawaiian values as the basis
for our Statement of Principles: `aloha', `kuleana', `malama aina', `ho`okipa', and `pono', values
guiding personal and professional conduct when in service to the community; and
WHEREAS, such values resonate with the concept of publicly funded campaigns,
political accountability to the community, pono use of resources, and greater participation by
women and minorities in the political process.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY
OF HAWAII that our state legislators are urged to support publicly funded elections.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to
Hawai`i's Congressional Delegation, the members of the Hawaii State Legislature, Governor
Linda Lingle and the County Councils of Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu.
Dated at, Kona Hawaii, this 22nd day of February 2007.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL ER, C LINTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS Ex
Hilo, Hawaii FORD X
HIGA X
( hereby certify thaz the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCII, of the IKEDA X
County ofHawai`ion February 22, 2007
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X
ATTEST: PR.AGO X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
5 1 3 0
Reference: C-103/PWIRC -3
C TY CLERK CHAIRMAN & P ING O CER RESOLUTION NO.