HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0103.002 2006-2008 TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF COUNTY A COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN
FAVOR OF HB 661 SUPPORTING PUBLIC FUNDING OF COUNTY
ELECTIONS
February 21, 2007
To Hawaii County Council
From Marian W. Wilkins
73-1410 A Kaioko Dr.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
I am sorry that I found out about the proposed resolution just today. I will
make my testimony brief. I am a board member of the League of Women
Voters which has long supported public funding of elections.
I will start out by telling you that at first I doubted that publicly fiwding
elections was such a good idea. We all know that money has too much
influence in who is elected and what laws and decisions are made. Everyone
wants to alleviate that influence but how could it be done? Isn't that part of
the "trial by fire" that we expect candidates to go through? How would we
keep kooks and grand standers from collecting our hard-earned tax money?
It probably wouldn't work, I thought. Plus, this is always a touchy subject
to bring up to our own elected officials without implying that, they too, are
suspect.
Well, last yeaz at one of our League meetings we were shown a Bill Moyers
PBS special on this subject and I was convinced it not only could work, but
does work, even at the state level. Governors and mayors of states and cities
that now have "Voter Owned Elections" are giving glowing reports of how it
works in their jurisdictions.
We would very much like to have the Council view either this or the latest
edition of the video to hear for 'themselves the experience of other elected
officials. As the saying goes, "a picUire is worth a thousand words" so, if
you have not already viewed this special, we would be happy to arrange a
showing whenever it is convenient. In the meantime, I urge you to vote yes
on this resolution so that we can work together on this important issue.
Mahalo pp
T
def. Ugte