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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0583.001 1998-2000 •,, • • • IdAN M1ZUG'L'OHI -- OPES1DENT The mate . . ag - ° -� N; NOF -- r.EY , A 9. K 1g Bg il '.,OE PRESIDENT Tile I€uentietlt lie$islaturE r ro ..'- �., ' AVERYB.CHUMB LES IHARA. JR. .. MAJOPm LEADER of the ' i �' —. , . i_... g D :CNA H HAN C-IUN ¢tAte of 18tIIA , -lY ii .. s MA,:CD.*v EL°Oq LEAL'FP OHITNET T. ANOERSCN 1 a� ; MINORITY LEADER - g'�', :' STATE CA ?C_ SAM SLOM - - mINOR.Ty FLOOR I.FADER HONOLULU. HAWAII 9E813 November 1, 1999 F413T DISTRICT 1.O1194INE R. INOUYE -E :OND JLiTRIC' DAVID M MATE r RECEIVED . "y . UURA THIRD DISTRICT �. a ArvCRE'+r gvry C ounty Charter Commission rim By ... `OUPTH DISTRICT County of Hawaii Bgtc, / !it v JA \YAGI BUEN 25 Aupuni Street County Council G — HSEDC FIFTH DISTRICT Hilo, Hawaii 96720 JOE 'ANAKA SI3 7 DISTRICT AVEPY B CRUMBLE` Dear Members: SEVENTH DISTRICT JCNATNAN SHUN EIGwTH DISTRICT It is my understanding that the Commission is considering SAM SLOM a change of representation on the County Council to include NIEI7`4 DISTRICT at -large members. I am writing this letter in support of MAT'MATSJNADA TENT; D STRICT such a proposal. LES MAPA. JP. ELEMENT - DISTRICT I have served in the Legislature, as well as on the Council. BRIAN TA% ELF1 OF Rlc, During my tenure on the Council; all members were elected CARD. PUKUN'ACA islandwide, although some had district residency requirements. THIRTEENTH DISTRICT During my tenure at the Legislature, all districts have P00 TAM been single member districts, but I have had the o RO'JRTEEN C DISTRICT pportunity s V„cRKLA „, to speak with many legislators who were elected under the PTE.NT - PSTRICT prior multi- member district system. NORMAN MQU3UCHf "'EENT. CSTRICT From my perspective, I would argue that 1 "N BAS "M °'° gu government is better SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT served when an elected official represents a large constituency DAYID ME and therefore takes a broader EIOHTEY DISTRICT perspective when dealing with community issues. -It seems to be inevitable that a Council member RANDY IWA IWAGE or legislator will place y p A primary emphasis on the district he or NINETEENTh DISTRICT CAL KMAAMOTO she represents. That is where the elected official will spend TWE:JtETH UISTR' :T most of his or her time, those are the people to whom he will ERIAN K•NNO talk most of the time, and it is that district' s issues and T•V - DISTRICT OCLLEENST DISTR SA with which he or she will be most familiar. That has certain TWEVT 4 sECONDDISTRICT advantages, bu-t also may mean that only the administration ROBERT SUNDA (mayor or governor) takes the broader ers TWBO N . ATA DISTRICT out for the p pective, and looks BGBLKAT. greater good of the entire community. I believe WENTY.FC'URTM DISTRICT it would be better to have a MARB „,LL AGE at -large mix on the Council,, with :some wrrYR. g members and some district members. It sounds as FT'T7 DISTR is the proposal before you, if that MWrnEY t. AVDERSON CHIEP CLEFK PAJL T KAWAGUC.4i • • • Comm. No. 5 &8 001 File No. Ci-h4- Ref, To: P L Ref. Date DEC 1 4 1999 • Zile *mate state at Nafaaii County Charter Commission Page 2 County of Hawaii November 1, 1999 I hope the above is useful, and I thank you for your consideration. Very truly yours, C . - ANDREW LEVIN Senator, Third District AL:CSY LEAGUE-. O F. ort.et• c M rt_F B4OLULU 1LgZ t: L; ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE DIFFERENT ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AT -LARGE SYSTEM Arguments for: (Still most popular nationwide -64 %. 1. Allows minority constituents the larger the community, the less more of an opportunity to muster likely it uses this system.) enough support to win a voice on the council. Arguments for: 2. Pork barrel system often 1. Produces council members who associated with district represent the entire community and representation may help the less aren't hampered in dealing with fortunate districts get their needs broad issues because they are tied tended. to the narrower concerns of a 3. Campaign costs can be lower. limited- interest constituency. Campaigning can be conducted on 2. Works against building of grass roots level with door -to -door political machines. work by volunteers. No need for 3. Council members are more apt to large -scale media advertising. view problems of the community as a 4. Gives every geographic whole and to take a long -range subdivision a voice on the council. view. 4. Every member is accountable to Arguments against: the whole community and citizens 1. Fosters pork barrel system. can appeal to any or all of them. 2. May pit one district against 5. Prepares office holder for others in a struggle for running for higher office because distribution of resources, or may of need to appeal to diverse groups produce a compromise by which and the potential for building a resources are distributed equally record that indicates a concern for regardless of city -wide or district all groups. . needs. • 3. Voter has no other direct Arguments against: representative to turn to for • 1. Tends to over- represent the assistance should the district middle class majority, and fosters member be insensitive. Especially feeling of political impotence in true for those who supported the minority groups and communities. opponent. 2. A disproportionate number of 4. System fails to guarantee that council members may come from one minorities will be represented in small section of the city. proportion to. their voting 3. Favors candidates who are well- strength. known or who have money. 5. May give rise to political 4. Higher cost of campaigning can machines. obligate candidates to large 6. Contributes toward taking a donors. narrow view of major public issues. 5. Can lend itself to rather 7. Lends itself to emergence of violent shifts in public demagogues who would never be sentiment within the community -- elected city -wide. eg. a progressive council 8. A minority neighborhood or a replaced by a reactionary one. depressed district which under an at -large council was receiving more SINGLE - MEMBER DISTRICT SYSTEM than its proportionate share of the There is a noticeable shift away budget because of its greater needs from the single member district might get a smaller share under the system in cities over 5,000. single-member r district system. • COMBINATION OF DISTRICT AND VARIATION OF DISTRICT SYSTEM AT -LARGE MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS A strong trend is seen toward a Arguments for: mixed system. 1. Citizens have more than one representative to appeal to. Arguments for: 2. May make representatives more 1. Combines advantages of at -large available for community meetings, and district systems and amelio- etc. rates some of the disadvantages of 3. Because each council member both. represents a more varied group of 2. Offers potential for minority communities, he /she will need to groups to influence the outcome of see each issue from a wider each at -large race in addition to perspective and adopt long -range selecting a minority candidate in views. districts where they are a majority. Arguments against: 3. In areas where the minority 1. Districts would be larger, groups are very small or dispersed, adding to campaign costs. they would not be able to control a single district but would be able to influence the outcome of each at -large race, often resulting in higher levels of minority representation. The Environment and Natural • Arguments against: Resources are priority items 1. Those elected at -large Statewide and for the League frequently consider themselves more of Women Voters. We are in important. dire need of volunteers 2. At large council members may especially a Chair - interested in working on these issues. view themselves as potential rivals If interested, call Evelyn of the mayor. Bender at 737 -2524 today. VARIATION OF AT - LARGE COUNCIL The Chair may be an off -Board member, or may serve on the MEMBERS NOMINATED BY DISTRICT AND State Board. ELECTED AT -LARGE Arguments for: 1. Council member is accountable to district for attention to neighborhood problems and yet 19 -92 ROSTER cannot afford to be provincial in • attitude and thwart community Name misspelled? Telephone progress. numbers transposed? Changed ?, 2. Council members would have to Have you moved lately? be accessible to all citizens. NOW IS THE TIME TO CORRECT Arguments against: YOUR LISTING IN THE NEXT Majority segment of community will LEAGUE MEMBERSI[IP DIRECTORY have dominant voice in the election of representatives from minority Check your name and address districts.. on your Aloha Voter label and call the office is any correction is necessary. • • Helene H. Hale July 21, 1999 To the Members of the Charter Commission: 1 desire to go on record as supportlnp art amendment to our County Charter to be placed on the ballot in the General Election of 2000 to ask the people of this county b if they want to have our county elections be conducted on a non - partisan I have been convinced for many years that we should take partisan politics out of County govemment. Most local governments are elected on a non - partisan basis because they deal primarily with services- police, fire, parks, recreation, civil defense, etc., which are not partisan issues. We are now the only county in the state that continues to have partisan county elections. Most voters do not belong to a political party. They pride themselves on voting for the most qualified person, and this Is most important now In our county since we went to district representation since our local council members have to live in the district they represent and voters elect only one, not the nine at large, many of whom they did not know. County elections now do not take the large sums of money that an at -large election might take previously. I do advocate getting voters involved in political parties on the state and national levels where partisan decisions are made on taxes, education, health, welfare, civil rights and national defense, etc. based on political philosophy. And on that level I believe strongly that our 2 arty system, with new ideas generated by minor third parties invigorating the major parties, has made the U.S. a strong and stable country. Non - partisan county elections held during the Primary election would be won by anyone receiving over 50% of the vote, making it unnecessary for that person not to have to run in the General election, thus reducing the cost of running, which hopefully will attract more people to participate in the process. Many people will not now vote in a Primary election because they are limited to a one party ballot. A non - partisan election would allow those who consider themselves Independent to offer themselves for service. Our present elections laws make that very difficult. I do not advocate putting the Charter proposal before the electorate in a special election because I believe that the pro and cons should be thoroughly debated by the people of this county and under our present system more people vote In a General election, making the final decision more representative of the citizens of this county. Thank you for considering these Ideas. e re H e0 162 Ames St Nilo. 111. 96x10 PMomares ld0a)SSS.7423 e•mall * *Md /tteree . .n.- ev..-n. n., . ,,..e.. v-.n. .......... .... ..- .- ... __. i 9 5 D COALITION FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS Why we •support single member districts: 1) To bring the council into closer touch with the communities. Each council member will represent a small part of the island and will be closely accountable to the voters in his area. There will be plenty of incentive to attend community events and meetings. 2) To reduce the influence of "Big Money ". An islandwide campaign can cost $100,000 and more. There is always implied "consideration" for large campaign contributions. A local campaign does not require large sums of money. 3) To open the political process to more people. If you can win the respect and support of your district, that's all it takes to seek office. 4) To ensure that the voters know their candidates. Most voters do not even know the names of most of the council candidates who come from all over the island running for nine positions. If we all vote for candidates that we know, then our choices will be wiser. 5) To avoid domination of the political process by the community with the largest concentration of voters. A council member must • always give top priority to where the most votes are. Right now, that is Hilo. In the future it may well be Kona. It would be better to have the power spread throughout the many communities on our island. 6) To encourage plain speaking by our candidates. Now all the island -wide politicians must guard their words so that they don't offend the interests in any area of the island. We prefer straight talk that's directed at the issues that concern us. 7) To bring Hawaii County into conformity with the pattern of both State and Federal government. At all three levels the chief executive (president, governor, mayor) is elected by all the people. At the federal and state levels the legislative body (U.S. Congress and State Legislature) is elected by the various representative districts. We want the Hawaii County Council elected in a similar manner. • • • • • I9 9 D COALITION FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS Why we support single member districts: 1) To bring the council into closer touch with the communities. Each council member will represent a small part of the island and will be closely accountable to the voters in his area. There will be plenty of incentive to attend community events and meetings. 2) To reduce the influence of "Big Money ". An islandwide campaign can cost $100,000 and more. There is always implied "consideration" for large campaign contributions. A local 'campaign does not require large sums of money. 3) To open the political process to more people. If you can win the respect and support of your district, that's all it takes to seek office. 4) To ensure that the voters know their candidates. Most voters do not even know the names of most of the council candidates who come from all over the island running for nine positions. If we all vote for candidates that we know, then our choices will be wiser. 5) To avoid domination of the political process by the community with the largest concentration of voters. A council member must always give top priority to where the most votes are. Right now, that is Hilo. In the future it may well be Kona. It would be better to have the power spread throughout the many communities on our island. 6) To encourage plain speaking by our candidates. Now all the island -wide politicians must guard their words so that they don't offend the interests in any area of the island. We prefer straight talk that's directed at the issues that concern us. 7) To bring Hawaii County into conformity with the pattern of both State and Federal government. At all three levels the chief executive (president, governor, mayor) is elected by all the people. At the federal and state levels the legislative body (U.S. Congress and State Legislature) is elected by the various representative districts. We want the Hawaii County Council elected in a similar manner. l OF WOMEN VOTiS 0 • • HAWAII COUNTY April 21, 1999 QUESTION: Should the County of Hawaii have Non - Partisan Elections? PRO CON 1) The C & C of Honolulu has NON - PARTISAN county 1) The County of Hawaii does not have to follow those elections as will Kauai in the next election. counties. 2) Most people consider themselves Independent and are 2) It weakens the Party participation even further. not Party Members for any political party. In the last Parties are supposed to be representative of people who Primary, Hawaii County had 69,530 registered voters but support certain philosophies which are expressed in a only 55% bothered to vote. Party Platform and Convention Resolutions. In the General Election the County had 71,270 registered and 70.8% voted. Many people will not vote in a Primary because they are limited to one Party ballot. 3) The Democratic Party has been the ruling party since 3) It further weakens control over Party candidates. 1962. Non - Partisan Elections could weaken this overwhelming control. Many people run as a Democrat only because it is the Party most likely to win; but many of those who win as a Democrat do not support the Party Platform or Convention. 4) County government is a municipal service organization 4) Some parties may be interested in land use issues and and police, fire, parks & recreation are not political party allocation of resources to human service organizations. issues. 5) One election held at the time of the Primary could 5) It might further weaken third or multi -party candidates elect a candidate if he/she receives not less than 50% +one who presently qualify to get on the General Election of the vote. Partisan elections only assure the top ballot even if they receive only one vote. candidate to run in the General Election. If fewer than 50% +one votes for a candidate there must be a "run -off" at the General election to determine the winner. This would eliminate party preference and better ensure that the winning candidate is the real choice of most of the voters. 6) A candidate can focus on local issues of concern to the 6) Party Platforms would not be influential. public. 7) Incumbents have a record they will have to defend. 7) It could favor incumbents who may be better known. 8) Most municipal governments have non - partisan 8) We don't have to follow the majority. elections. The C &C of Honolulu did a survey which shows that 76% of the cities interviewed had non - partisan elections.