HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 091 Jacobson, B
ALOHA COMMISSION CHAIRMAN Edmund Haitsuka and COMMISSION MEMBERS David Fuertes, Daphne Honma,
Casey Jarman, Guy Kaulukukui, Jamae Kawauchi, Joseph Kealoha, Alapaki Nahale-A, Susie Osborne, Todd Shumway and Scott
Unger
Thank you for serving on this very important commission to update our Hawaii County Charter. Please consider the following
amendments when making your decisions on how to update our county charter:
I do NOT support 4-YEAR COUNCIL TERMS: I oppose this measure. It may be inconvenient for Council Members to run every
two years, but it is more inconvenient for residents to be stuck with a lying thieving tool of the old-boys for four years. Voters
need to have responsive elected officials at the County level. There is no better way to keep officials responsive than by making
them run every two years. The elected person shouldn't be allowed a grace period to learn the job.
The person elected should be ready to do the job or they shouldn't run. Four year terms allow a bad official to become entrenched
and to allow time to pass between bad decisions they make and elections. Thus change would allow the "old-boys" to keep their
tools in office and further rob the residents and taxpayers of this island.
I SUPPORT RECALL – we need to provide more accountability for our elected officials by making the recall procedure easy to
understand by citizens. It provides for the petitions, the amount of signatures and signature verification.
I SUPPORT 2% FOR THE LAND FUND- other counties have this funding set aside as part of their charter so citizens can count
on funds being available to acquire access to beaches and mountains, preserve culturally important land areas and sites, beaches,
coastal area, agricultural lands, protect natural resources, significant habitat or eco-systems, water quality and water systems,
including buffer zones.
This would remove this funding from yearly budget wrangling and have the funds available to attract matching funds.
I SUPPORT VACANCIES- I support this amendment, because voters should have some say in this process. if an elected official
dies, resigns, is recalled or impeached, the 2nd highest vote getter in the last election could serve OR the public should be able to
have a “say ” who shall serve for the rest of the term by a special election by mail.
SUPPORT APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS- I support this amendment because it gives the council
members the right to nominate people for boards and commissions, the Mayor can give comments and the public has a time to
weigh in. Council members know who is qualified and involved in their districts better than the Mayor.
I SUPPORT AMENDING THE CHARTER- I support using the same process and procedure as Initiative and Referendum to
amend the charter as was written by the League of Women Voters and approved by voters in 2008.
I SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR’S OFFICE- I support providing the legislative auditor’s office
with funding that is independent of the budget process, so they are not beholden to the council and they can do their work
independently.
I SUPPORT COUNCIL COMMITTEES- I support having set standing committees for the County council. I support that notices
should be sent 6 calendar days before committee and council meetings and that council matters can only be delayed by one
meeting and that each council member shall have one vote on each committee.
I SUPPORT REDISTRICTING- it is important to have each council district to have approximately the same amount of people and
the island to be divided into 9 equal districts. Federal guidelines should be followed, the process clearly defined and a report
made to the people in an open and transparent manner.
Mahalo!
Former Council Member Bob Jacobson
ADDRESS PO Box 900
Kurtistown, HI 96760
PHONE NUMBER 966-8831
EMAIL jacobs@hawaiianisp.com
COMM. 91