HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 093 Begg, JALOHA 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 support the following AMENDMENTS:
YES__ 4-Year COUNCIL TERMS- I DO support
YES____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.
YES__ 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.
YES__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.
YES__I 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.
YES__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.
YES__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.
YES __ 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.
YES__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.
OUR CHARTER IS THE HIGHEST LAW OF HAWAII COUNTY.
I support open and transparent government.
Mahalo!
John Begg
14-388 Pakaka Road
PO Box 1647
Pahoa, HI 96778 8089368271 COMM. 93