HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 015.1 - 2021-10-04 Kossow, Hustace: letter to Mayor Roth requesting to fill District 3 Commission vacancy without delayCOMMUNICATION 015.1
BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOW
Chairperson
JAMES HUSTACE
[rice Chairperson
COPY
2021
HAWAPI COUNTY
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603
Hilo, HI 96720
October 4, 2021
RE: Redistricting Commission vacancy
Dear Mayor Roth:
MEIZHU LUI
DWAYNE YOSHINA
JENNIFER YADAO
STEPHANIE BATH
AINA AKAMU
STEPHEN LOPEZ
i�
On October 1, 2021, the District 3 (portion of South Hilo, portion of Kea`au) representative on
the Redistricting Commission submitted her immediate resignation due to unforeseen, personal
circumstances.
As Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission, we Fespectfully urge that you execute
the necessary steps to f ll this vacancy without delay.
Specifically, we humbly ask that you work swiftly to submit a nominee to the County Council by
October 15, 2021, so that they may consider a confirmation at their November 3 meeting. Any
action on this matter that can reasonably be completed sooner is welcomed.
We recognize that there are procedural elements internal to the Council that affect the timing of a
nomination and are prepared to work with the Council Chairperson in seeking expedited
accommodations at any level feasible. We also acknowledge that the proper vetting and selection
of a suitable appointment to this Commission requires your significant evaluation. It is
imperative, however, that all measures be taken to seat a replacement in as short an order as
possible.
Section 13-4(e) of the County Charter states that "(a)ny vacancy occurring in any board or
commission shall be filled for the unexpired term. "
As you may be aware, the Redistricting Commission is unique in that it will dissolve after
completing and submitting its redistricting plan, which, per the Charter and unless extended,
must be filed by December 31. Due to the protracted delay in receiving data from the U.S.
Census bureau that was fundamental to starting our duties, the Commission is already facing
daunting time constraints.
Redistricting Commission Page 2 October 4, 2021
To maintain its critical timeline, our Commission diligently continues with its proceedings of
assessing and establishing map boundaries for each council district.
The nature of work that the Redistricting Commission is tasked with makes it especially critical
that all nine of the island's council districts be fairly and adequately represented in its
composition and deliberations. Neglecting to pursue all possible means for replacing this
vacancy — with a sense of urgency -- would be a disservice to the current residents of Council
District 3 and the community at -large.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and dedication to ensuring that the public is well -served.
We look forward to your appointment.
Respectfully,
Bronsten-Glenn Kossow
Chairperson
James Hustace
Vice Chairperson
c: Members of the Redistricting Commission
Pomaika` i Bartolome, Executive Assistant to the Mayor
Jon Henricks, County Cleric
Lee E. Lord, Managing Director
Maile Medeiros David, Council Chairperson
Susan L.K. Lee Loy, District 3 Council Member
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