HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 078 Hookano, L - Term Limit History
EDMUND HAITSUKA
Chairman
DAVID FUERTES
Vice Chair
DAPHNE HONMA
CASEY JARMAN
GUY KAULUKUKUI
JAMAE KAWAUCHI
JOSEPH KEALOHA
ALAPAKI NAHALE-A
SUSIE OSBORNE
TODD SHUMWAY
SCOTT UNGER
2009-2010
HAWAI‘I COUNTY
CHARTER COMMISSION
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To: Edmund K. Haitsuka, Chair
and Members of the Hawai‘i County Charter Commission
From: Levi K. Hookano, Attorney
Date: October 12, 2009
Re: History of County Council Term Limits
Chair Haitsuka and Members of the Hawai‘i County Charter Commission,
This memo is provided pursuant from a commissioner request regarding the
history of county council term limits in Hawai‘i County. This is a brief overview of the
evolution of county council terms.
1969 – First County Charter is Approved With Four-Year Council Terms
The county’s first charter was approved in 1968 and became effective in 1969. At that
time, the terms of the councilmembers were as follows:
Four-year council term.
Nine-member council.
Six members represented districts:
o One from the district of Puna;
o One from the district of Ka‘u;
o One from the combined districts of North and South Kona;
o One from the combined districts of North and South Kohala;
o One from the district of H makua; and
o One from the combined districts of North and South Hilo.
Three members were elected at-large.
Voters voted for all council seats.
Term limits are not mentioned.
1979 – Seven Member Council and Adjusted Term Limits are Rejected
In 1979, the charter commission proposed the following changes to the composition and
terms of the county council:
Reduction of the council to seven members.
Four-year terms for at-large members.
Two-year terms for district members.
This proposal was rejected by the electorate.
1990 – Single Member Districts and Reduced Council Terms are Approved
In 1990, the charter commission and subsequent vote by electorate approved the
following changes to the composition and terms of the county council:
Single member district representation (no at-large seats).
Terms reduced from four-year terms to two-year terms.
1992 – Longer Council Terms and Term Limits are Rejected
In 1992, the county council proposed a charter amendment, via ordinance 92-80, to make
the following changes to the council terms:
Increase terms from two-years to four-years.
Council terms will not be co-terminus with the mayor.
Terms are limited to three consecutive four-year terms.
This proposal was rejected by the electorate.
1996 – Term Limits for Council Members are Approved
In 1996, the county council proposed, and the electorate approved, a charter amendment
via ordinance 95-20 to limit council terms in the following manner:
Council terms may not exceed four consecutive two-year terms.
1998 – Longer Terms for Council Members are Rejected
In 1998, the county council proposed, and the electorate rejected, a charter amendment to
extend the terms of council members in the following manner:
Increase council terms from two-years to four-years.
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This was the last time the issue of council terms and term limits were addressed by the
electorate. The current charter provides for nine single-member districts, each member serving a
two-year term, with term limits of four consecutive two-year terms. If you have any questions
regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Levi K. Hookano
Commission Attorney
Cc: Karen Eoff, Commission Secretary
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