HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1056.004 2006-2008•
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TESTiMt3NY OF KEICHI lKEE3A
~PQRE THI` CfJUNGIl. ~ THE GQIJI~`Y OF HAWAii
QN BILE. 257 Charter Amendment to Article Xl~
AQrii 22, 2flfl8
Honorable Chairman and Members of the County Counci{~ Good Morning.
My name is Keichi Ikeda. I am here to testify in favor of Bill 257.
Buts before going into my testimony, t would tike to commend this Council
for agreeing to adopt a publicly financed campaign system. Thank you.
Now, to my testimony. t urge you to vote in favor of Biti 257 for
the following reasons:
This proposed amendment clarifies several ambiguities that
currently exist in Article XI. It clarifies the exact requirements that a
petition signer must meet. it clarifies that nonvotes do not coun# in
determining whether a proposal has met its majority vote requirement. It
clarifies the procedural requirements for obtaining petition signatures. It
disaNows payment based on number of signatures collected to circulators
of petitions. It guarantees that trivia{ matters do not qualify for
initiatives and referendums by establishing a 15°Io minimum requirement.
The proposed amendment would also ensure that the processes of
initiative and referendum do not become cruel hoaxes perpetrated on the
public by specifying that measures the public has decided on by majority
vote in either process will not be repealed in the first three years after
passage, except by two-thirds vote of the Council. This provision insures
that the public's decision will not be overturned on petty whims by the
Council, white stiff enabling the Council to overrule really bad legislative
decisions by the public.
In summary, Bill 257 is a good and fair bill for all. Al! it does is
allow the public to decide whether it wants to adopt the proposed charter
clarifications or not. Even if adopted by the voters, it will do nothing to
diminish the Council's just powers. Please support it. Thank you.
Keichi Ikeda,
Phone: 325-1489
G,amrm t+ta 0
Ref. Ta +' ~ ~~ 1
Ref. Date APR 2 2 20f1R