HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 056 - 2021-12-16 (testimony) Common Cause Hawaii: Testimony for the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission December 17, 2021 Public Hearing*Common
COMMUNICATION 056
Hawaii
December 16, 2021
Hawaii County Redistricting Commission
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96729
(Via Email Only)
RE: Testimony for the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission December 17, 2021
Public Hearing
Dear Hawaii County 2021 Reapportionment Commission:
Common Cause Hawaii is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to
upholding the core values of our representative democracy and ensuring a fair and transparent
reapportionment and redistricting process.
Common Cause Hawaii stands in strong support of a transparent reapportionment and
redistricting process with an emphasis on providing the public with necessary information and
tools to participate in the redistricting process, including drafting plans in service of their
various communities.
Given the large number of testifiers at the December 14 and December 16 public hearings,
Common Cause Hawaii encourages the Commission to strongly consider the public
testimonies and the testimonies of communities of interest in preparing revised county
electoral maps. Redistricting maps that are publicly driven represent the will of the people and
best reflect our democratic process and values. Common Cause Hawaii respectfully requests
the Commission prioritize the thoughtful incorporation of feedback from the community
acquired thorughout the course of the two public hearing proceedings in to a new 2021 Hawaii
County redistricting plan.
Similar to previous testimony, Common Cause Hawaii would also like to recommend that
Charter Section 3-17(e) be amended to revise the Commission's public hearing process. While
Common Cause Hawaii appreciates the Charter's mandate to hold at least one public hearing
in each of the nine council districts prior to completing a draft of the redistricting plan, we
believe that these hearings should be conducted once a draft plan has been created and
approved by the Commission; not prior to completing a draft of the redistricting plan. By
structuring the public hearing process in this manner, we believe that it will improve public
participation and increase attendance at these meetings. More public hearings across Hawaii
County may be had in lieu of the limited one public hearing in east Hawaii and one in west
Hawaii. This process has demonstrated that the public has shown more of an interest in
participating and commenting once a draft plan was provided for input. It would make sense
for the Hawaii County Charter to be amended to provide at least one public hearing in each of
the nine council districts be had upon completing a draft of the redistricting plan.
If you have any questions or concerns, I am available to discuss further at or
jacob@kaiwiula.com.
Very respectfully yours,
Jacob Aki
Jacob Aki
Common Cause Hawaii