HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0627.004 2010-2012 Bill 211 (draft 2), 3rd reading, June 6, 2012
Testimony delivered by hand Wednesday June 6, 2012: 8 AM, Hilo Council Chambers/County Clerk
Honorable Council Members,
The county council has its very own pilot comprehensive funding program designed to provide an
alternative to money influenced elections. Some of you helped create this"clean elections" program.
This same county council today is about to approve a Charter Amendment that would make the lead
attorney for the office of Corp. Counsel an elected position.
Opening the position of lead Corporation Council to the influence of election money from private donors.,
will have a detrimental effect on the overall team of attorneys who must work to defend all county
agencies,year round and not only between election cycles.
Making this an elected position would also certainly create enormous friction or even chaos among the
staff of Hawaii County Corporation Counsel, if not immediately, certainly in the future.
Additionally it costs the taxpayers of the County to add this race to the election ballot.
Finally, it is highly disingenuous for three term veteran councilmember Brenda Ford, who has served
during these recent years of County Charter Commission review,to introduce this proposal of Bill 211 so
recently after she approved the completion of the once every 10 year Charter review project.
Bill 211 is clearly political posturing at its heart, and adopting Bill 211 will bring changes to the County
Charter which will make our County Government less efficient,and also make our defense attorneys far
more open to financial manipulation and corruption.
Sincerely,--
Bradley Westervelt
--PO Box 216 Pahala, H1 96777 808-557-5453 bdw @hawaii.rr.com
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