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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 072 p0Rr9 s;Id SOUTH KOHALA .r a, 40,11 WEST HAWAII COMMITTEE NORIN and SOUTH 4 A1P KONA �� POST OFFICE BOX 1761 / KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII 96740 KA'U July 2 , 1979 Mr. Kimiaki Sakata , Chairman and Membersof. Hawaii County Charter Commission County of. Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo , Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Sakata : This letter is to urgently request reconsideration of your "tentative" decision of June 26 to have a County Council of seven members , five directly elected from the four State Repre- sentative Districts (two from District 2) , and two elected "at large" . Our grounds for this request are as follows : Readings of the Minutes of Commission meetings available to us of the Charter Commission and its Subcommittee disclose that no consideration on its merits was given the proposal for nine directly elected Council Members presented to you first by Mrs . Virginia Isbell , representing the "Women` of Hawaii for Better Government" and subsequently expanded and endorsed by the Kona Coast Chamber of Commerce , West Hawaii Committee , Exchange Club of Kona , Kona Board of Realtors , Women of Hawaii for Better Government and Kona Business and Professional Women . This proposal was presented and discussed in the advertisement of those parties in West Hawaii Today on May 4 and May 11 , 1979. Copies of this ad were given to all members of the Commission the night of May 22 , and a copy was also transmitted with ex- planatory remards in the West Hawaii Committee letter to the Commission of May 26 , 1979 ( Comm. 63) . Instead of consideration of this proposal on its merits , it was dismissed out of hand as "a nightmare for us in terms of setting up districts" --and , again , "there is no way we can do it . We don ' t have the time , nor do we have the resource. " (These are quotes from Commissioner Omanaka , June 5 , 1979 . ) In so dismissing the " Kona Proposal " , and after these expressions there were no more discussions of that proposal , the Subcommittee COMM. NO. Mr. Kimiski Sakata , Chairman and Member of Hawaii County Charter Commission Page Two July 2, 1979 and thereafter the' Commission completely ignored the fact that that proposal provided for two things : 1 ) An interim solution of direct election of nine Council Members from the four State Representa- tive Districts . (This avoided the equal popula- tion , or districting problem for the present. ) 2 ) A permanent solution of-.nine directly elected Council Members from nine equal population dis- tricts , the boundaries of which would be fixed by an Apportionment Commission to be convened when the results of the 1980 census are available, and at ten year intervals in the future. Now, where was this going to be "a nightmare" or "no way we can do it"? It is obvious that the subcommittee and subsequently the Commis- sion completely ignored the properly presented - and publicly backed - proposal of Kona . In so doing , you have made a mockery • of the "Testimony" and "Public Hearing" pronouncements of the Commission . The Public Hearing in Kona on May 22 had more people in attendance, and more speakers than all the other round-the- Island Public Hearings . combined . And there could be no doubt that the attendees backed the speakers who advocated the "Kona Proposals" . In contrast , where was the public response in favor of continuing. any form of "at large" election of Council Members?, The fact of the matter is that there was none! There is a conclusion which can be drawn from the above , and we regretfully voice it. This is that some Commissioners completely ignored the testimony and public input , then proposed and voted for a Council which favored their own self-interestsor those self-interests of groups of which they are members . In so doing , they did not truly carry out their assigned responsibility to all of the County of Hawaii residents . Considering the closeness of the vote of• the Commission on this matter and the lack of consideration of the merits of the " Kona . . Mr. Kimiski Sakata , Chairman and Membersof Hawaii County Charter Commission Page Three July 29 1979 Proposal which was. designed to be fair and equitable for all residents of this County, not just Hilo , or Kona , or Kau , etc . , but all , we formally request a reconsideration of the "tenta- tive" decision for a seven man Council with five from Districts and two at large. As previously stated , we will continue to be at your service. for more information or clarification . Respectfully submitted , Sinc - - 41/11111. LI Charles P. Davi ., ° Ch rman West Hawaii Co mi CPD:dp ----� . . . . NORIU'and SOUTH • SONATA t` . a WEST HAWAII COMMITTEE NORTH and 500111 $ BONA 41POST OFFICE BOX 1761 / KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII 96740 July 2, 1979 MAO Commissioner Schutte- Here is an advance copy of our letter for your information. Thank you very much for your stand. in this matter and:your assistance in getting this to the Commission promptly. If we can help you at all in your efforts, please call. Sincerely, William W. Moss Chairman, Charter Review Subcommittee