HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0839.006 2006-2008
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P/PW(ZRC
Murashige, Laura P
From: Gene and Susan Dursin [sgd7@aloha.net] 20 JAN
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 7:51 AM 8 fl~ 7 S7
To: Council Testimony ^ GQ'~e, 4 i,=
Subject: Res. 439-07 /,-om M SOUNT~f
To: Hawai'i County Council
From: Susan Dursin, Co-president, League of Women Voters
Date: January 8. 2008
Re: Support for Resolution 439-07, Urging Legislators to Support Publicly Funded Elections for Hawai'i County Council
Once again, I would ask for your affirmative vote for this resolution. For many years, The League of Women Voters
has favored the public funding of elections at all levels of government. Now both state and local governments have
shown that it can work, and that when it is instituted, both the public and the candidates are happy with results. More
citizens, across a wider spectrum, are able to run for office. Candidates can spend their campaign time and effort
on issues rather than on raising money. Finally, the public is assured that candidates do not owe debts of gratitude to
big-dollar contributors. With that, the level of trust in government rises.
Not every candidate will participate, of course. Public funding laws are written to guarantee a candidate's right to raise
and spend money as he/she chooses. Thus, the argument that public funding laws are unconstitutional simply does not
hold water. Another argument is that with many problems requiring expenditure, the county does not have the dollars
to fund elections. This pilot project would fund the program with state dollars, allowing a trial period for Hawai'i County
to see how it works.
I want to make it very clear that League has never used the term "Clean" elections because we do have faith in elected
officials to govern. We respect the tremendous effort and sacrifice of time and energy that serving in elected office
entails. And so we believe that candidates should not have to spend their own money to underwrite a campaign. Not
only is that asking too much, many candidates do not have the resources to take money out of their own pockets. We
recognize that candidates for county office here have not spent large sums of money in the past. However, as the island
develops and more issues involve financial interests, it is likely that ever-increasing amounts will be spent on campaigns,
with some contributors having deep pockets. Support for this resolution is not a reflection on any official. We are saying
only that the more money that's involved, the greater the opportunity for bias.
It would be good to try out a system that enables a candidate to be free from financial worries. It would be very good to
have the County of Hawaii lead the way in this state to put such a system in place.
Thank you.
wT
Reef oa.,1.rd" -r.LC_
Ref. Dote JAN 8 2nna
1/8/2008