>> THE GENERAL ELECTION ISN'T JUST VOTING FOR CANDIDATES.

VOTERS WILL ALSO HAVE THEIR SAY IN RESHAPING GOVERNMENT BY  CASTING THEIR VOTES FOR A NUMBER OF CHARTER AMENDMENT QUESTIONS.

EVERY COUNTY'S QUESTIONS ARE DIFFERENT, AND SOMETIMES WHAT  THEY'RE ASKING MAY NOT BE SO STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE BREAKDOWN  SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, THE REASONING BEHIND THEM AND WHAT  IT MEANS IF THEY'RE PASSED.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND  LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

∂ >> Daryl:   ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII...I'M  DARYL HUFF.

THE NOVEMBER BALLOT ISN'T JUST A  CHANCE FOR YOU TO PICK THE CANDIDATES YOU WANT TO SEE IN  OFFICE.

IT'S ALSO A CHANCE FOR   YOU TO CHANGE HOW GOVERNMENT  WORKS BY VOTING "YES" OR "NO" ON A NUMBER OF STATE CONSTITUTION  AND COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

TONIGHT WE'RE UNPACKING WHAT  THESE AMENDMENTS ARE ASKING TO HELP YOU BE BETTER INFORMED ON  WHAT YOU'RE VOTING FOR.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR  PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR  QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT  PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

COLIN MOORE IS A PUBLIC POLICY  ANALYST AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE MATSUNAGA INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AS  WELL AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WITH UHERO, THE UNIVERSITY OF  HAWAII ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION.

BLAZE LOVELL COVERS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICS AS A  REPORTER FOR HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT.

RECENTLY, HE WAS PART OF  THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF THE NEW YORK TIMES LOCAL INVESTIGATIONS  FELLOWSHIP.

ASHLEY MIZUO IS HAWAII PUBLIC  RADIO'S GOVERNMENT REPORTER.

SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS THE  CITY HALL REPORTER AT THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER.

AND JUDITH MILLS WONG IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF  WOMEN VOTERS OF HAWAII.

IT'S A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION  WORKING TO PROTECT AND EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND ENSURE  EVERYONE IS REPRESENTED IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

LET'S START OFF WITH THE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

WE CAN LOOK AT THESE AS WE GO.

THE ONE THAT PROBABLY HAS THE  HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION CHOICES,  SHALL THE CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED TO REPEAL THE LEGISLATURE'S AUTHORITY TO  RESERVE MARRIAGE TO OPPOSITE SEX COUPLES?

COLIN MOORE, WHY IS THAT NECESSARY?

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> WELL, AS FOLKS MAY RECALL, IN  1998, HAWAI'I ADOPTED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, GIVING  THE LEGISLATURE POWER TO RESTRICT MARRIAGE TO OPPOSITE  SEX COUPLES.

THE IDEA HERE IS TO RIGHT THAT WRONG.

IT'S VERY SYMBOLIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THIS WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO.

ATTITUDES TOWARDS SAME SEX MARRIAGE HAVE SHIFTED  DRAMATICALLY SINCE THAT PERIOD.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO A CONCERN  THAT POTENTIALLY, MAYBE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, I THINK  IT'S VERY UNLIKELY, BUT THIS PARTIALLY MOTIVATES IT.

MAYBE ATTITUDES CAN SHIFT AGAIN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

COULD  POTENTIALLY CHANGE THEIR MIND AND PERHAPS THE SUPREME COURT  WOULD CHANGE THEIR RULING THAT LEGALIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE  THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

BUT I REALLY SEE THIS AS A  SYMBOLIC AMENDMENT.

THAT FOLKS ARE SAYING, WE  SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IS THIS IN 1998.

IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND THIS IS GOING  TO REMOVE IT.

>> Daryl: JUDITH MILLS WONG,  WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER TONIGHT.

YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THIS.

SHOULD PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A  PRO-SAME SEX MARRIAGE AMENDMENT?

THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVES.

YOU KNOW, AND IT GETS CONFUSING WHEN YOU START MIXING UP ALL THE  NEGATIVES.

>> AS COLIN EXPLAINS, THIS IS REVERSING SOMETHING THAT WAS  ALLOWING SOMETHING THAT NOW IS NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE  NATIONAL DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT.

AND BECAUSE OF OUR OWN LAWS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

SO VOTING FOR THIS AMENDMENT MEANS SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF  SAME GENDER MARRIAGE, AND OF COURSE, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS  IS VERY MUCH FOR EQUALITY OF GENDER IN DIFFERENT ARENAS.

SO WE ARE FOR THIS AMENDMENT.

SIMPLY BECAUSE, AS COLIN POINTED  OUT, IT REALLY REVERSES SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T STAND  FOR.

>> Daryl: ASHLEY, LET ME TRY  AND UNDERSTAND THIS.

SO THE CONSTITUTION -- THE STATE  CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED TO REPEAL THE LEGISLATURE'S  AUTHORITY TO RESERVE MARRIAGE TO OPPOSITE SEX COUPLES?

MARRIAGE IS NOT RESERVED TO OPPOSITE SEX COUPLES.

IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE MARRIAGE IS RESERVED TO OPPOSITE SEX  COUPLES.

WHAT?

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK THIS IS ONE  OF MY FAVORITE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BECAUSE THERE'S SO  MUCH HISTORY BAKE INTO IT.

>> Daryl: EVER?

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, NO, NO, NO.

LIKE RECENT TIMES, BUT BASICALLY, SO HAWAI'I LEGALIZED  SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN 2013 WITH THE HAWAI'I MARRIAGE EQUALITY  ACT.

BUT THEY LEFT IN THE  CONSTITUTION, A RELIC FROM 1998 THAT SAYS THE LEGISLATURE SHALL  HAVE THE POWER TO RESERVE MARRIAGE TO OPPOSITE SEX  COUPLES.

THEY'RE REMOVING THAT.

HAWAI'I'S TRACK ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WAS ONE  OF THE FIRST STATES OR THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO RULE IN  FAVOR IN 1993.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS  MOMENTUM IN 1994, 1995, 1996 AND 1997 WAS TO PUT THIS IN OUR  CONSTITUTION WAS BACKLASH TO THAT 1993 RULING IN FAVOR OF  SAME SEX MARRIAGE.

SO WHAT THIS IS DOING IS TAKING  THAT PART OUT.

I THINK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE  REALLY PUSHED THIS IN LEGISLATURE TO GET THIS OUT WAS  REALLY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING ON THE NATIONAL  LEVEL, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE SUPREME COURT.

ONE OF THE MAIN ADVOCATES FOR GETTING THIS REMOVED FROM THE  CONSTITUTION REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMAN'S  HEALTH ORGANIZATION OPINION FROM CLARENCE THOMAS.

RECONSIDERING THE RULING ON CODIFYING SAME SEX MARRIAGE  FEDERALLY.

THAT WAS A HUGE REASON WHY THIS  WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS.

GET THAT PROVISION OUT OF THERE.

>> Daryl: I'M GLAD YOU GUYS  HAVE THE CHEAT SHEETS HERE.

[LAUGHTER]  I MEAN, I WAS THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND I'M HAVING A HARD  TIME KEEPING TRACK.

BLAZE, DOES THE CONSTITUTION  RIGHT NOW PROTECT SAME SEX MARRIAGE?

>> WELL, I'M NO LAWYER, DARYL -- [LAUGHTER]  >> BUT OUR LAWS IN HAWAI'I CERTAINLY DO.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ABORTION RULING LAST YEAR.

THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT IF THIS KICKS TO THE STATE    LEGISLATURE FAR DOWN THE ROAD, SOMEONE WILL COME ALONG AND TRY  TO CHANGE THE LAWS, TAKING THIS OUT AS A WAY TO PROTECT THAT  PIECE THAT'S ALREADY ON.

>> Daryl: I KNOW YOU'RE A  LAWYER, BUT THE SUIT FOOLED ME.

[LAUGHTER]  SO TO SUM UP, THIS IS A WAY OF PROTECTING PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO  MARRY WHOM THEY CHOOSE.

>> YES.

>> ALTHOUGH THEY ALREADY HAVE THAT RIGHT.

THIS IS PREVENT THE -- POTENTIALLY A FUTURE LEGISLATURE  FROM SAYING, WE HAVE THE POWER TO RESTRICT MARRIAGE IN THIS  WAY.

IF THIS IS PASSED, THE LEGISLATURE WILL NO LONGER HAVE  THAT POWER.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

SO THIS BRINGS UP THIS QUESTION ABOUT BLANK VOTES, YES AND NO  VOTES.

PEOPLE GET CONFUSED BY SOME OF  THESE AMENDMENTS AND THEY LEAVE IT BLANK.

JUDITH MILLS WONG,  WHAT'S THE RISK IF PEOPLE GET CONFUSED AND LEAVE THE BALLOTS  BLANK?

>> I'M GOING TO PUNT TO SOMEONE  ELSE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A BLANK VOTE COUNTS TO THE  DENOMINATOR OF THE WHOLE COUNT.

SO THEREFORE, IT ACTS AS A NO  VOTE .

>> THE   SHORT ANSWER IS YOU NEED 50%.

YOU INCLUDE THE BLANK.

IF YOU HAVE MORE YES VOTES THAN NO, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE YES VOTES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF  ALL OF -- YES HAS TO BE MAJORITY OF ALL OF THE VOTES CAST,  INCLUDING BLANK VOTES.

>> Daryl: BLANK VOTES GETS TO  BE A SIGNIFICANT PLURALITY.

>> A BLANK VOTE IS ESSENTIALLY A NO VOTE.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS  SHOW.

[LAUGHTER]  >> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER BECAUSE IF YOU -- BEST  IF YOU VOTE YES OR NO.

A BLANK VOTE CONFUSES THE  OUTCOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY THE NEXT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WHICH  WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, AND FRANKLY, I HAVE NOT HEARD A  CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THIS MEANS.

WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.

SHALL THE CONSTITUTION OF THE  STATE BE AMENDED TO MAKE APPOINTMENT AND CONFIRMATION  PROCESS FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES THE SAME AS SUPREME COURT  JUSTICES AND INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS AND CIRCUIT COURT  JUDGES?

SOUNDS STRAIGHTFORWARD EXCEPT  THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- IT DOESN'T MAKE IT THE SAME  BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS HIGHER JUDGES AND THE CHIEF  JUSTICE APPOINTS THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE THE SAME.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

ALL OF THE FOUR POINTS LAID OUT THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE  QUESTION, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CHIEF JUSTICE  MAKES THAT APPOINTMENT IS GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS  FOR YOUR CIRCUIT COURTS, INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS  AND SUPREME COURT.

THERE'S THIS COMMITTEE CALLED  THE JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO  TAKE A BUNCH OF APPLICATIONS FOR   THESE DISTRICT COURT POSITIONS.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF AT LEAST FOUR BUT NO  MORE THAN SIX APPLICANTS, AND THAT'S GOING TO GO TO THE CHIEF  JUSTICE.

HE MAKES HIS PICK OR SHE MAKES  HER PICK.

AND THAT GOES TO THE SENATE FOR  CONFIRMATION.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT NOW FROM THE WAY THIS CIRCUIT COURTS ARE?

BLAZE OR ASH, YOU WANT TO GO THERE?

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?

WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW THAT WE  HAVE TO FIX?

>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S WHAT HAPPENS  IF THE SENATE DOESN'T EITHER TAKE UP THE CONFIRMATION OR  REJECTS IT.

RIGHT NOW, IF THE SENATE DOESN'T  TAKE IT UP, IT GOES BACK TO THE JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE,  THE SECRET COMMITTEE WE TALKED ABOUT, AND THEY'LL MAKE THE  PICK.

IF THIS PASSES, THEN THERE'S  SORT OF A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE SENATE  DOESN'T TAKE ACTION.

IT COULD GO BACK TO CHIEF  JUSTICE FOR HIM TO SELECT SOMEONE ELSE OR GO BACK TO THE  JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE.

>> Daryl: IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T  TAKE ACTION, YOU DON'T END UP WITH A SEAT, A DISTRICT COURT  SEAT IN LIMBO FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE NEXT  LEGISLATURE.

IT GIVES YOU ALTERNATIVE WAY OF  CONFIRMING?

>> YES.

AND IT MAKES IT STREAMLINE SO ALL ARE APPOINTED IN THE SAME  WAY.

>> Daryl: THE OTHER THING I'VE  NOTICED, COLIN, MAYBE YOU NOTICED THIS TOO.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRICT COURT  APPOINTEES.

THERE'S CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTEES.

THERE'S  SUPREME COURT APPOINTEES.

AND THERE'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS  LIKE CRAZY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS A LOT OF  THESE ON THE PLATE.

THE CHANCES THAT A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IS  GOING TO FALL OFF THE PLATE IS THERE SO THEY NEED A PROCESS.

>> ALSO, MY UNDERSTANDING, TOO, FROM SENATOR KARL RHODES IS A  CHIEF ADVOCATE.

THEY'VE HAD TO CALL A LOT OF  SPECIAL SESSIONS OF THE SENATE TO MANAGE THESE DISTRICT COURT  APPOINTMENTS.

AND MAKING IT LIKE ALL THE OTHER  JUDGES -- IT WOULD MEAN THAT'S NO LONGER NECESSARY IN THE SAME  WAY.

>> Daryl: I NOTICE THAT TOO.

THEY'LL POP UP WITH A SPECIAL SESSION.

WHAT'S THAT FOR?

>> SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A FEW EVERY YEAR, AND THAT COSTS  MONEY.

>> Daryl: THIS COULD ACTUALLY  SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY?

>> POSSIBLY.

[LAUGHTER] >> Daryl: I'M TRYING TO FIGURE  OUT -- >> I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT IT  DOESN'T SHORTEN -- DOESN'T HARM THE SELECTION PROCESS BECAUSE  IT'S STILL A VERY NONPARTISAN, CLEAR, ONLY EXPERIENCED PEOPLE.

SO IT DOESN'T, IN ANY WAY, TAKE AWAY FROM THE GOOD PROCESS THAT  WE HAVE IN PLACE ALREADY.

>> Daryl: THEN IT REDUCES  CRONYISM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WHICH IS THE REASON WE HAVE THAT  PROCESS.

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS   GOING, IS THE JUDICIAL SELECTION  COMMISSION.

IN MANY STATES, AS FOLKS MAY  KNOW, THEY ELECT THEIR JUDGES.

WE NOT ONLY DON'T DO THAT, WE  HAVE THIS SPECIAL COMMISSION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO APPLY TO  GET ON A LIST BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OR MOST CASE, GOVERNOR  HAS A CHANCE TO APPOINT THEM OR TAKE THEM OFF THE LIST.

YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING A GROUP VETTED, NOT POLITICALLY  CONNECTED NECESSARILY.

IT DOESN'T ERODE THAT POWER IN  ANY WAY.

>> Daryl: IS THERE ANY REASON  SOMEONE WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT?

>> MAYBE NOT VOTE AGAINST,  BUT SENATOR RHODES IS WORRIED IT'S A LITTLE LONG.

IT'S A BIT  CONFUSING AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT CARE ABOUT IT AND MIGHT LEAVE IT  BLANK AND MAY END UP BEING A VOTE AGAINST IT.

>> Daryl: EVERYBODY HERE SEEMS TO FEEL -- EVEN THOUGH REPORTERS  DON'T ENDORSE CERTAIN THINGS, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYBODY WOULD  OBJECT?

>> I DON'T.

>> IN THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WAS ZERO TESTIMONY.

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS, LIKE MANY OF THE --  >> MORE HOUSEKEEPING.

>> YEAH.

A LOT WE'RE GOING TO  REVIEW TONIGHT IS HOUSEKEEPING.

>> Daryl: I CAN FIND SOME THAT  AREN'T.

HONOLULU COUNCIL CHARTER  AMENDMENTS.

THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY THERE.

LET'S -- THE ONE I'D LIKE TO START WITH IS SALARY ONE.

BECAUSE I'M INTO THAT ONE.

SO SHALL THE REVISED CITY  CHARTER PROVISION RELATING TO SALARIES TO COUNCILMEMBERS BE  AMENDED TO CAP ANY ANNUAL   INCREASE AT NO MORE THAN 5%,  REQUIRE THAT ANY CHANGES BE TIED TO THE AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY  CHANGES OF CITY EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING  UNITS AND REMOVE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY NO VOTE ON ITS OWN  RAISES?

ASHLEY, WHAT'S THE BACK STORY?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> OKAY.

SO THE WAY THAT IT  CURRENTLY WORKS, THE HONOLULU SALARY COMMISSION SETS THE  COUNCILMEMBERS' SALARY.

BUT THE COUNCIL CAN VETO IT.

THIS QUESTION IS ASKING, IF COUNCIL'S VOTE ON THEIR SALARY  SHOULD BE REMOVED AND IF ANY INCREASES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED AT  THE SAME RATE AS CONTRACTED CITY EMPLOYEES BUT CAPPED AT 5%.

THIS GOES BACK TO LAST YEAR WHEN THE SALARY COMMISSION  RECOMMENDED A 64% RAISE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS.

COUNCIL CHAIR  TOMMY WATERS REFUSED TO LET THE COUNCIL VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE HE  BELIEVED THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE VOTING ON THEIR SALARIES BECAUSE  NO OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES VOTE ON THEIR SALARY.

THERE'S SOME  CONTROVERSY.

SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS REALLY WANTED TO  VETO IT.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST WHERE THE  COUNCIL FELT MOTIVATED TO VETO BECAUSE IT LOOKS SO BAD.

IT'S  ELIMINATING THE POWER SO COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE THE CHOICE AT ALL  TO MAKE A DECISION ON THEIR OWN SALARIES.

I THINK THE CONFUSING THING IS WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TIED  TO THE CHANGES OF CITY EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT JUST MEANS IF ON AVERAGE, UNION EMPLOYEES WITHIN  THE CITY GET LIKE A 3% RAISE.

THAT MEANS THE COUNCIL WOULD  THEN GET A 3% RAISE.

GRANTED, IT'S CAPPED AT 5%.

>> Daryl: MY RAISES ARE ON  MERIT.

DOES THIS TAKE AWAY ANY MERITS?

IS IT AUTOMATIC RAISES FOR COUNCIL FROM NOW ON, AS OPPOSED  TO THIS VOTING PROCESS?

>> IT WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THE  SALARY COMMISSION.

ONLY THING THAT CHANGES IS  COUNCIL CAN'T VOTE TO PAY THEMSELVES OR CAN'T VOTE TO VETO  IT.

AND ALSO CAPPING IT SO WE DON'T  END UP WITH EXORBITANT SALARY INCREASES LIKE WE SAY LAST YEAR.

TO YOUR POINT, MY PAY RACES ARE ALSO BASED ON MERIT.

>> Daryl: SEEMS WHAT THIS IS DOING IS SETTING UP A SYSTEM  WHERE COUNCIL WILL AUTOMATICALLY GET RAISES WHENEVER CITY WORKERS  ARE GET RAISES.

JUDY?

>> LET'S BACK UP.

WHAT HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL ROUNDS OF SALARY NEGOTIATIONS IS THE  COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST THEIR OWN RAISES FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

ANYBODY WHO STUDIES INFLATION KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS IS IT ADDS UP  AND ADDS UP.

SO THE HUGE SALARY INCREASE  PROPOSED LAST TIME WAS MAKING UP FOR ALL THE TIMES THAT THEY  DIDN'T GET RAISES.

ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY  THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE ON THEIR RAISES, YOU TAKE AWAY TWO  THINGS.

THEIR ABILITY TO RAISE MORE THAN  YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE, BUT YOU ALSO TAKE AWAY THE INCENTIVE TO  PLAY POLITICAL GAMES OF I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A RAISE THIS YEAR.

MAYBE I'LL GET TWO NEXT YEAR.

THAT KIND OF THING.

YES, IT DOES  TAKE AWAY ANY MERIT INCREASE.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD MERIT  INCREASES WITH CITY COUNCIL FOR -- >> Daryl: I DON'T KNOW IF I'D  VOTE WHETHER I'D KEEP MY JOB.

>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT SOME  OF THE SALARY COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL.

IN THAT WAY, THERE IS THAT DISCREPANCY.

IF YOU'RE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL, IS THERE LIKE A -- I COULD SEE  PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THERE'S NO CHECK ON THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE  APPOINTING PEOPLE SETTING THEIR SALARIES.

>> BUT THERE ARE GUARDRAILS.

>> YES.

>> Daryl: COLIN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE BY CONTROVERSIES IN THIS  ONE.

>> IT DID.

PEOPLE WERE REALLY  CONCERNED IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEHOW THE SALARY COMMISSION WAS  STAFFED WITH PEOPLE CLOSE WITH VARIOUS COUNCILMEMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A FAIR CRITICISM OR NOT, BUT THAT WAS  ONE THAT WAS MADE.

OBVIOUSLY, THE OTHER ISSUE WAS  64%.

THAT SEEMED KIND OF GROSS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR ELECTED  OFFICIALS.

THIS SEEMS LIKE GENERALLY A GOOD  CHARTER AMENDMENT.

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST IT WOULD  PROBABLY BE IT DOES CAP IT AT 5%.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET A LOT MORE INFLATION AND COUNCIL  RAISES COULD NEVER GO OVER 5% AND THEY GET INCREASINGLY  MISMATCHED FROM OTHER HIGH-LEVEL CITY EXECUTIVES.

THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY ARGUMENT I WOULD MAKE AGAINST THIS IS 5%  CAP SEEMS ARBITRARY.

>> Daryl: LET ME ASK FOLKS WHO  COVER THE COUNCIL.

THIS MIGHT BE GOING OFF TOPIC A  NOTCH.

ONE THING THAT'S NOT IN THIS  CHARTER AMENDMENT IS WHETHER OR   NOT COUNCILMEMBERS ARE SUPPOSED  TO BE FULL-TIME.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE REAL  DEBATE WAS.

THEY SAY,   WE'RE OBVIOUSLY FULL TIME.

THE CALENDAR HASN'T CHANGED.

>> THAT'S THE ISSUES.

WITH THE  RAISE, THE EXPECTATION IS COUNCIL IS YOUR JOB.

THAT IS  SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

BUT MANY OF THE  COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE OTHER JOBS THAT ARE MUCH MORE LUCRATIVE.

THAT CAN SUPPLANT WHAT THEY CONSIDERED A LOW SALARY.

BECAUSE OF THAT IF THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR  COUNCIL AND YOU'RE GOING TO DEDICATE 100% TO COUNCIL, THAT'S  ALL THE MONEY YOU'RE MAKING.

WHEN SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES  MIGHT HAVE SIDE JOBS OR BUSINESSES THEY OWN AND  SOMETIMES THEY'RE LAWYERS.

THEY HAVE OTHER INCOME STREAMS  ON THE SIDE.

THE IDEA, I THINK, OF RAISING  THE SALARY TO SOMETHING THAT'S LIVEABLE IN HAWAII, THEY WANTED  TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO JUST DO CITY COUNCIL  WORK.

>> Daryl: YOU'RE A BIG FAN,  COLIN, OF FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE NEXT  AMENDMENT WE SHOULD SEE?

>> YES.

THIS IS MY CONCERN.

I THINK THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO HAVE A BOTH WAYS.

ON THE ONE SIDE THEY SAY, WE NEED A LIVEABLE WAGE.

FINE, $113,000 MIGHT BE REASONABLE.

BUT THEY ALSO WANT  TO WORK PART-TIME JOBS.

PRACTICE LAW OR A VARIETY OF  CONSULTING GIGS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE HAVE  PROBLEMS.

I WOULD HAVE FELT MUCH   BETTER ABOUT THIS IF WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT DEFINING THIS AS A  FULL-TIME JOB.

THAT WOULDN'T BE UNUSUAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, IF YOU'RE A FACULTY  MEMBER, WE'RE RESTRICTED HOW MUCH OUTSIDE MONEY WE CAN MAKE.

OUTSIDE OF OUR UNIVERSITY SALARY.

IT WOULDN'T BE  OUTRAGEOUS TO IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE WE DEFINE IT AS  A FULL-TIME JOB AND COUNCILMEMBERS ARE RESTRICTED ON  THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY CAN MAKE OUTSIDE OF THEIR COUNCIL  POSITION.

>> Daryl: JUDITH,   WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

THEY ELIMINATE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN VOTING ON THEIR OWN  SALARY, BUT THEY DON'T ELIMINATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST OF HAVING  OTHER JOBS WHILE THEY'RE COUNCILMEMBERS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A FULL-TIME COUNCIL  DESIGNATED FULL TIME?

>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT  SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

I DON'T THINK THIS HAS ANYTHING  TO DO WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

>> Daryl: IT'S OKAY, I'M  TRYING TO MAKE THIS SHOW -- >> THE SHOW IS VERY INTERESTING.

[LAUGHTER] I FEEL THAT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE  TO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THERE.

>> Daryl: FOR ANOTHER REASON?

>> RIGHT.

>> Daryl: I GET IT.

>> I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY  SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, AND I HADN'T THOUGHT  IT HOW IT PARALLELS WITH UNIVERSITY FACULTY.

BUT THAT'S TRUE.

UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND OTHER  STATE EMPLOYEES CANNOT.

THEY ARE CONSIDERED FULL-TIME  AND THEY HAVE TO TREAT THAT AS A FULL-TIME JOB.

>> DARYL: BLAZE, GETTING DOWN TO SALARY SYSTEM WE HAVE.

THEY SAID WE'RE LIKE DEPARTMENT HEADS, OR DEPUTY DIRECTORS OR  WHATEVER LEVEL THEY FINALLY SETTLED AT.

BUT THOSE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS BEING  DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

VERY CLEARLY  DEFINED RESPONSIBILITIES.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN YOUR OFFICE  X TIME TO X TIME.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS A LOT MORE  FLEXIBLE WITH HOW THEY SPEND THEIR TIME.

TO EVERYBODY'S POINT, HAVING THESE OUTSIDE JOBS CAN ALSO  RAISE THE POSSIBILITIES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHICH WAS  ANOTHER ARGUMENT FOR RAISING THE WAGES WHILE BANNING OUTSIDE  OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT.

SAME WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Daryl: LET ME WRAP THIS WITH A QUESTION.

I'M NOT SAYING  YOU GUYS HOW PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE.

IF PEOPLE SAID NO TO THIS, WHAT  DO WE END UP WITH?

>> THE EXACT SAME SITUATION AS  LAST YEAR.

I'M SURE ONE DAY THE SALARY  COMMISSION WILL OFFER A HIGH RAISE, AND THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE  TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD VOTE ON IT.

>> THEY'LL BE SPOKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY'LL DO HIGH RAISE.

WE'LL BE BACK TO THE WHIPSAW.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE TAKEAWAY IS IF YOU WANT TO RESTRICT THE ABILITY FOR THE  COUNCIL TO GET RAISES, YOU WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO VOTE YES ON  THIS.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

HERE'S ANOTHER FUN ONE.

SHALL THE REVISED CITY CHARTER  ESTABLISH AN OCEAN SAFETY COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN SAFETY AND TO APPOINT THE  CHIEF OF OCEAN SAFETY?

BLAZE, WHERE DID WE GET THIS  ONE?

>> I SORT OF READ THIS AS PART  OF BUST-UP BETWEEN BLANGIARDI AND HIS FORMER OCEAN SAFETY  CHIEF.

OCEAN SAFETY WAS SPUN OFF.

LIFEGUARDS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR A  LONG TIME.

>> Daryl: YEAH.

SO, ASHLEY, DESCRIBE THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

THIS IS LIKE TWO THINGS ON THE SAME AMENDMENT.

TWO THINGS HAPPENING HERE.

>> WELL, NO.

SO ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS -- WHEN THEY FIRST PROPOSED THIS AT THE  COUNCIL, THE OCEAN SAFETY DEPARTMENT HAD NOT SPLIT OFF  FROM THE EMERGENCY SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THEY WERE  ABLE TO DO THAT WITH CHARTER AMENDMENT OR MAYOR COULD DO  THAT.

>> Daryl: ORIGINAL PROBLEM  THIS WAS MEANT TO SOLVE?

>> IS THAT THE EMERGENCY  SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS THE OVERARCHING DEPARTMENT AND OCEAN  SAFETY IS WITHIN THAT.

>> Daryl: WHICH IS LIFEGUARDS.

>> LIFEGUARD AND VARIOUS THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT.

THEY FELT THEY COULDN'T SECURE CURRENTLY FUNDING THEY NEEDED OR  THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PROPERLY ADVOCATE FOR WHAT THEY NEEDED,  AND THE SUPPLIES AND LIFEGUARD SHACKS.

SO THEY DECIDED TO SPLIT  OFF FROM THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND CREATE THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT    OF -- MAYOR BLANGIARDI SPLIT THEM AND CREATED THE DEPARTMENT  OF OCEAN SAFETY.

>> Daryl: THAT PART WASN'T  CONTROVERSIAL.

>> NO.

AND SO ONCE THEY'VE SPLIT OFF, THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING, SHOULD  THERE BE AN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN  SAFETY?

THAT OPERATING SIMILARLY TO THE FIRE COMMISSION OR POLICE  COMMISSION, WHICH OVERSEES THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT AND  HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> Daryl: COLIN, IS THAT A  GOOD IDEA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T SEE WHY YOU WOULDN'T A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE OCEAN  SAFETY IN THE SAME WAY YOU HAVE ONE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND  POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT HAPPENS IF  THIS DOESN'T PASS.

WHO ENDS UP WITH OVERSIGHT.

>> THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL BECOME LIKE THE OTHER  DEPARTMENTS.

>> THERE WOULDN'T BE A SPECIAL  COMMISSION.

THAT TENDS TO BE -- FOR  EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE A SEPARATE COMMISSION.

THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION.

>> Daryl: BLAZE, THE POINT YOU MADE, THIS DUST-UP BETWEEN THE  MAYOR AND GUY WHO WAS POPULAR -- SEEMS TO BE POPULAR RUNNING THE  LIFEGUARDS.

>> I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE  KNOW WHAT THAT WAS OVER.

REPORTS OF POLICE.

>> YEAH.

>> SOME EMPLOYEES WERE FEELING  UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER A HEATED EXCHANGE.

THAT WAS ONE THREAD UNDERLYING.

>> Daryl: WHEN THE DEPARTMENT  WAS ESTABLISHED, THE MAYOR APPOINTED SOMEONE TO BE THE  DIRECTOR.

>> HE WAS ON   PAID LEAVE ALREADY.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

BUT WE HAVE AN ACTING DIRECTOR NOW OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

IF THIS HAPPENS, A COMMISSION WOULD TAKE OVER AND HIRE THE NEW  PERSON?

>> RIGHT.

>> Daryl: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A COMMISSION IN THIS  SITUATION?

>> WELL, WE DO USE THAT METHOD  IN MOST OF THE SIGNIFICANT DEPARTMENTS.

THIS IS A FAIRLY LARGE DEPARTMENT, SO IT SETS A LAYER  OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS OR  DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE COMMISSIONS.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH IT.

I CAN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE AN  ESTABLISHED POSITION ON IT.

>> Daryl: IS THERE ANYBODY  HERE WHO FEELS LIKE OUR FIRE COMMISSION AND POLICE COMMISSION  DO A GREAT JOB?

I MEAN -- [LAUGHTER]  >> Daryl: IF WE'RE SAYING, THIS IS A GOOD WAY OF AMENDING  IT.

BLAZE?

>> LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, WHEN  IT'S ON PAPER, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO GETS APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION.

FOR A LONG TIME, POLICE COMMISSION, SOME WOULD ARGUE THE  POLICE COMMISSION, A DOG WITH NO TEETH.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO GETS PUT IN THOSE POSITIONS.

ARE THEY GOING TO HOLD THE CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE?

ARE THEY GOING TO DIG INTO  THE ISSUE HAPPENING WITH THE  LIFEGUARDS, DEPARTMENT?

>> Daryl: MY GUESS IS IT WOULD  BE A LOT LESS CONTROVERSY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN SAFETY  VERSUS THE POLICE.

>> YEAH.

I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU'RE GOING TO HIGH-LEVEL CONTROVERSY FROM  OCEAN SAFETY COMMISSION.

I THINK CAN'T OF, OTHER THAN  TRYING TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES WHICH DOESN'T SEEM CONTROVERSIAL  TO ME.

THESE CONDITIONS WORK WHEN  PEOPLE APPOINTED KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE POLICE OR FIRE  DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE NOT JUST APPOINTED  BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST POLITICAL CRONIES.

YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ATTORNEYS OR  PEOPLE NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND SAY THIS  ISN'T RIGHT.

YOU WANT A COMMISSION NOT ONLY  WITH TEETH BUT WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE STANDING THAT THEY CAN  ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION.

>> Daryl: IS THERE   A FINE PRINT?

>> NO.

>> Daryl: AS OPPOSED TO BEST  FRIEND OF WHOEVER IS MAYOR?

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] >> Daryl: JUST ASKING.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON, OTHER COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT FRANKLY I HAVE  NOT LOOKED AT MUCH.

I DON'T LIVE THERE.

SO HOW DO WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS?

LET'S START WITH HAWAI'I COUNTY.

OKAY.

SHALL THE HAWAI'I COUNTY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE ANY    VACANCY ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL THAT OCCURS OR EXISTS AFTER A  PERSON WAS DULY ELECTED TO FILL THAT SEAT SHALL BE FILLED BY  THAT DULY ELECTED SUCCESSOR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE UNEXPIRED  TERM?

BLAZE?

>> BECAUSE OF THE CINDY EVANS ELECTION LAST YEAR.

TIM RICHARDS LEFT HIS COUNCIL SEAT TO RUN FOR THE SENATE.

HE WON, CINDY RAN.

SHE WON OUTRIGHT IN THE PRIMARY IN  AUGUST.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN RICHARD  TOOK HIS SEAT IN NOVEMBER, CINDY EVANS COULDN'T GO TO COUNCIL  UNTIL DECEMBER.

SO THEY WENT A MONTH WITH NO  REPRESENTATION.

>> THAT MIGHT AGAIN HAPPEN AT  THE END OF THIS ELECTION AS WELL.

THIS QUESTION IS ASKING, IF THERE'S A VACANCY IN THE COUNTY  COUNCIL DURING ELECTION YEAR, IF THERE'S AN OUTRIGHT WINNER IN  THE PRIMARY ELECTION, WILL THEY BE IMMEDIATELY BE SWORN IN AND  SERVE BEFORE STARTING THEIR NEXT TERM THE FOLLOWING YEAR?

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE  COUNCILMEMBER SUE LEE WON THEIR ELECTION TO THE STATE HOUSE IN  THE AUGUST PRIMARY AND SHE'S RETURNING UNOPPOSED.

SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER SUE LEE FROM -- SHE WAS RUNNING  UNOPPOSED FOR A HOUSE SEAT.

IF SHE WILL PROBABLY WIN BECAUSE  SHE'S RUNNING UNOPPOSED.

SHE'LL HAVE TO VACATE.

[LAUGHTER] >> Daryl: A JOURNALIST CAVEAT  SLIPPED IN THERE.

>> SHE'LL VACATE THAT SPOT AND  IT WILL BE OPEN.

DENNIS ONISHI WON THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST.

IF THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT PASSES, HE COULD ASSUME THAT  POSITION.

NO PERIOD WHERE THAT SEAT IS  LEFT VACANT.

>> Daryl: IN THAT PARTICULAR  CASE, THAT WOULD BE A MONTH FROM NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER.

>> AND IT WOULDN'T COUNT TOWARDS THEIR TERM.

NOT LIKE THEIR TERM WOULD EXPIRE A MONTH EARLY BECAUSE THEY  STARTED A MONTH EARLY.

>> Daryl: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT  A GAP OF FIVE OR SIX MONTHS?

>> JUST A MONTH.

>> Daryl: THIS IDEA THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE A SEAT UNCOVERED.

WE RAN INTO THAT AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WAIANAE.

>> Daryl: WAIANAE AND THERE  WAS -- WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE --  >> MARK NAKASHIMA PASSED AWAY.

>> Daryl: RIGHT.

HOW  IMPORTANT, COLIN, IS IT FOR 365 DAYS A YEAR TO HAVE A PERSON  SITTING IN THAT SEAT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S  TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT IN A LOT OF CASES.

PARTICULARLY IF THE  LEGISLATURE ISN'T IN SESSION.

IN THIS CASE, NOT ANY GOOD  ARGUMENT WHY YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE REPRESENTING  THE DISTRICT.

I THINK THIS IS SORT OF A COMMON-SENSE SOLUTION.

THESE TERMS DON'T MATCH UP.

THAT'S A LITTLE OVERBLOWN.

THAT ENDS UP BEING A RHETORICAL POINT THAN A REAL CONCERN.

ALL THINGS EQUAL, SURE.

BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE  REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT.

>> AND COUNTY COUNCIL IS  SMALLER.

>> Daryl: THE COUNCIL THEMSELVES ARE SMALLER BUT  THEY'RE DISTRICTS ARE BIGGER.

THEY'RE REPRESENTING A LOT OF  PEOPLE.

>> AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH  DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS.

THE LEGISLATURE IS DEALING WITH MORE  BIG PICTURE.

>> AND THEY MEET YEAR ROUND.

>> THEY COULD MISS LIKE -- >> Daryl: SOUNDS OKAY?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY IT SHOULDN'T PASS.

IT'S A LOGICAL WAY TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION THAT'S COME UP TWICE  IN A ROW.

>> Daryl: ANOTHER ONE.

THIS IS ABOUT DEPARTMENT HEADS ALSO IN HAWAI'I COUNTY.

SHALL THE HAWAI'I COUNTY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE MAYOR  TO APPOINT DEPARTMENT HEADS  WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE START OF EACH MAYORAL TERM AND WITHIN 60  DAYS FOR ANY VACANCY IN OFFICE THAT OCCURS DURING THE MAYORAL  TERM?

I THINK I GET THAT.

ASH.

>> THIS QUESTION ASKING IF THE  MAYOR IS REQUIRED TO APPOINT ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH 30 DAYS OF  TAKING OFFICE OF 60 DAYS OF A VACANCY.

THIS IS KIND OF PREVENTING A LOOPHOLE CURRENTLY IN THE  CHARTER, WHICH ALLOWS DEPARTMENT HEADS TO CARRY OVER FROM  PREVIOUS MAYORAL ADMINISTRATIONS TO NOT AGAIN GO IN FRONT OF THE  COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED.

THE WAY IT WORK IS THE MAYOR OF  HAWAI'I COUNTY WILL APPOINT THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.

AND THE COUNCIL WILL CONFIRM THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD.

AND WHAT THE COUNCIL IS SAYING IS BASICALLY THAT TECHNICALLY,    IF DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN BE ROLLED OVER CURRENTLY WITHOUT  GOING BEFORE THE COUNCIL AGAIN BEFORE GETTING APPOINTED UNDER  THE NEW MAYOR OR RE-ELECTED MAYOR'S NEW TERM.

MAYOR MITCH  ROTH TRY TO VETO THIS.

SAYING 30 AND 60 DAYS IS NOT  ENOUGH TIME FIND AN ADEQUATE DEPARTMENT HEAD.

THERE HAVE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND THE COUNCIL OVERRODE HIS  VETO.

>> Daryl: BLAZE, WHAT'S THE  NEGATIVE ABOUT THIS?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH NOT HAVING IT?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW AMENDMENTS THAT HAD SOME  OPPOSITION.

I THINK MAYOR ROTH'S OPPOSITION  COMES FROM HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ENOUGH TIME TO GET  TOGETHER A CABINET, TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND GATHER QUALIFIED  CANDIDATES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> Daryl: 30 DAYS FROM THE START OF THE TERM.

GENERALLY PEOPLE HAVE -- THEY GET ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OR MIGHT  GET ELECTED IN AUGUST.

AND SO THEY HAVE SOME TIME  BEFORE THEY GET INTO OFFICE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RESOURCES.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THEY CAN'T DO THIS BEFORE THEY  GET INTO OFFICE.

>> THAT WAS THE COUNCIL'S POINT.

YOU SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WHO YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS MIGHT BE  BEFORE YOU'RE DAY ONE OFFICIAL, ON THE JOB.

IT'S NOT REALLY 30 DAYS.

YOU SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT IT  WHILE YOU'RE CAMPAIGNING AND WHATNOT.

A LOT OF THIS LEAD TO CONTROVERSY OVER AN APPOINTMENT  AT HAWAI'I COUNTY'S PLANNING DIRECTOR.

WHO SOME COUNCILMEMBERS DIDN'T  THINK HE HAD EXPERIENCE FOR THE JOB.

HE HAD A CONSULTING FIRM WHERE SOME OF HIS CLIENTS MIGHT BE  COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

SO HE NARROWLY GOT  CONFIRMED BY THE COUNCIL, AND I THINK THEY WANT -- IF MAYOR CAME  BACK AND TRIED TO ROLL HIM OVER, THEY WANT THEM TO COME BEFORE  AGAIN.

>> I THINK MAYOR ROTH HAS A  LEGITIMATE OBJECTION TO THIS.

THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENT HEAD  POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED SKILLS, ENGINEERING  BACKGROUND.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.

IF YOU WANT TO DO A  NATIONAL SEARCH FOR SOME TECHNICAL POSITONS, 30 DAYS  ISN'T ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

WHO'S GOING TO TAKE A JOB WHEN  YOU SAY TRUST ME, I'M ABOUT TO WIN BUT I HAVEN'T WON YET.

SO LET'S START THESE INTERVIEWS.

FOR THE VERY POLITICAL POSITION,  MY SENSE IS THIS IS LESS OF A PROBLEM.

FOR TECHNICAL POSITONS, THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM.

30 DAYS ISN'T MUCH TIME IF YOU'RE TRYING TO INTERVIEW A  BUNCH OF CANDIDATES.

YOU HAVE TO OFFER THEM THE JOB,  NEGOTIATE.

>> Daryl:   AND THEY GOT TO MEET WITH ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> 50 DEPARTMENT HEADS.

>> IT'S A LOT.

>> Daryl: JUDITH MILLS WONG,  THIS IDEA OF CONDENSING CALENDARS, IS THAT GENERALLY  GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC?

WHEN YOU FORCE A CALENDAR ON TO  SOMETHING?

>> GENERALLY, YES.

BECAUSE IT REQUIRES ADHERENCE TO A SCHEDULE.

YOU'VE MADE A PERSUASIVE  ARGUMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE TECHNICAL POSITIONS, IT WOULD BE  REALLY HARD TO FILL A TECHNICAL JOB IN 30 DAYS.

MOST OF US HAVE BEEN IN OR AROUND JOBS WHERE IT'S TAKEN SIX  MONTH TO GET A TECHNICAL POSITION FILLED.

>> BLAZE LET'S SAY A PERSON THAT DOESN'T GET CONFIRMED IN THIS  PERIOD OF TIME OR APPOINTED IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT'S THE  ENFORCEMENT?

THAT PERSON'S WORK IS NOT VALID?

IF IT'S A BUILDING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR?

SOMEONE SAYS YOU WEREN'T APPOINTED IN 60 DAYS.

DOES THAT HAVE THAT IMPLICATION IF THEY CAN'T MEET THESE  DEADLINES?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

DO THEY GO THROUGH DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THAT CASE?

>> I THINK IT'S UNCLEAR.

>> Daryl: DEPUTIES ARE USUALLY  APPOINTED TOO.

>> THERE'S NO   CONSEQUENCE TO THE MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK IT'S CLEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE MISSES A  DEADLINE.

I THINK HE COULD APPOINT THE  PERSON ANYWAY.

>> I DO THINK FOR VACANT  POSITIONS, THE DEPUTY WOULD BE THE ACTING.

BUT FOR THE INITIAL APPOINTS -- >> WHAT IF THEY DON'T MAKE THE  30-DAY DEADLINE?

I THINK THE ANSWER   IS THERE'S NOTHING.

>> YEAH.

>> Daryl: IT'S SYMBOLIC  PERHAPS.

OKAY.

MAUI.

SO OKAY.

BOARD OF ETHICS HIRED  INDEPENDENT STAFF.

THAT'S OFTEN THE WAY ETHICS DEPARTMENTS WORK AROUND THE  STATE.

BLAZE?

>> NO.

SO THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT CAME  FROM ONE OF MY STORIES.

AFTER THE BIG MAUI BRIBERY CASE,  WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE IN THE COUNTY  THAT FAILED BECAUSE STEWARD STANT TAKES A BUNCH OF BRIBES  FROM MILTON CHOY.

WE LOOKED AT THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE DEDICATED BUDGET OR STAFF INVESTIGATE ANY  WRONGDOING.

THIS WOULD GIVE THEM RESOURCES  TO DO INVESTIGATIONS, HIRE OUTSIDE PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO A  LOT OF THESE CASES.

BEFORE, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DO  ANY OF THAT.

>> Daryl: AND THEN SO WHAT DO  THEY HAVE?

>> THEY HAVE ON -- THEY REALLY  HAVE NO ONE ACTUALLY.

AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A  BUDGET.

THEY'RE ATTACHED TO THE  DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATION COUNSEL, WHICH IS LIKE THE  COUNTY LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS.

AND THE DEPARTMENT ASSIGNS THEM,  LIKE, A SECRETARY PART-TIME AND A LAWYER PART-TIME THAT CAN HELP  WITH MINISTERIAL TASKS.

WHAT THEY CAN DO, IT'S ALMOST UP  TO THE VOLUNTEER BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO DO THE  RESPONSIBILITIES LAID OUT IN THE CHARTER.

REVIEW ETHICS,  DISCLOSURES, INVESTIGATE EMPLOYEES.

AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO -- RECEIVE COMPLAINTS.

HOLD JUDICIAL HEARINGS.

THEY CAN'T DO A LOT OF THAT  EFFECTIVELY HAVING NO MONEY OR DEDICATED STAFF.

>> Daryl:   ACTIVELY NODDING.

>> I WANT TO TALK.

[LAUGHTER] WE ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF  THIS PARTICULAR POSITION BECAUSE AS YOUR ARTICLE SAID, THE  PROBLEM IS, THEY HAVE NO RESOURCES.

SO WE EXPECT THE ETHICS COMMISSION TO DO ALL THE THINGS  THAT WE PASSED AND WERE PASSED INTO LAW.

TO LOOK AT THE  LOBBYISTS, LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL SUBMISSIONS.

GIVE ADVICE ABOUT SOMETHING IS OR ISN'T.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE STAFF.

AND SO WE FEEL THAT IT IS AN OBVIOUS CHOICE TO PAY AND STAFF  THE OFFICE TO MAKE IT ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'VE TOLD THEM WE WANT  THEM TO DO.

>> THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF  TRAINING.

ONE THING WE HOPE THE ETHICS  COMMISSION IS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENGAGING IN CORRUPT  PRACTICES OR UNETHICAL PRACTICES.

RIGHT NOW PERSONNEL  DOES THE TRAINING.

THIS WOULD GIVE THEM THE  CAPACITY TO HAVE THIS NEW INDEPENDENT STAFF.

PROVIDE  CONSISTENT TRAINING.

FOR THE COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR  COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

>> Daryl: ASHLEY, SOME NOTES  ON THIS TOO?

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] >> Daryl: LET ME GET BACK TO  BLAZE.

BLAZE, WHAT DO THEY NOT DO IN  THE CASE OF THIS BRIBERY SCANDAL IN HOW COULD THEY CHANGE WHAT  HAPPENED?

>> IN THAT CASE,   THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

IN PART BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS.

BUT WHAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONS  WANT TO DO IS NOT JUST WAIT FOR A COMPLAINT TO COME BUT ACTIVELY  LOOK FOR PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES AND CASES OF WRONGDOING AND  BRING THEM IN TO LIGHT.

>> Daryl: WE WENT THROUGH THIS  WITH HONOLULU ETHICS COMMISSION WHEN CHUCK TOTTO GOT SORT OF  UNDERCUT WITH CORPORATION COUNSEL AND FORCED OUT BY HIS  OWN BOARD.

BUT THAT WAS A BOARD.

THEY HAD A STAFF, HAD ATTORNEYS.

ACROSS THE OTHER COUNTIES, IS  KAUA'I ALL RIGHT?

IS THE BIG ISLAND ALL RIGHT?

DO THEY HAVE ACTIVE ABILITY TO DO THIS?

>> NO -- WELL, THEIR COUNTY CHARTER SAY THEY DO, BUT KAUA'I  AND HAWAI'I COUNTY ARE LIKE MAUI.

THEY DON'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY AND A LOT OF DEDICATED STAFF.

HONOLULU HAVE AN ETHICS COMMISSION AND NOT JUST A  VOLUNTEER BOARD.

THEY'RE MORE LIKE THE STATE  ETHICS COMMISSION.

>> Daryl:   THIS IS STATEWIDE PROGRAM.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAUI.

SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING  IS IF VOTERS ON KAUA'I OR BIG ISLAND WANT TO SEE BETTER, MORE  VIGOROUS ETHICS ENFORCEMENT, THEY NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ON  LEGISLATURES TO FUND IT.

THE ABILITY IS THERE.

THEIR CHARTER  AS OPPOSED TO MAUI.

>> STATE ETHICS COMMISSION CAME  OUT WITH THE RESOLUTION LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO.

>> PART OF THE COMMISSION.

>> THEY WANTED TO GET ALL OF THE  COUNTY BOARDS OF ETHICS MORE FUNDING SO THAT THEY CAN BE LIKE  THE STATE LEVEL ETHICS COMMISSION.

>> ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT  DIDN'T PASS IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> Daryl: REALLY?

>> IT WILL BE BACK.

>> Daryl: IT WILL BE BACK.

OKAY.

SO THIS IS A BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS  LIKE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE KIND OF AN ISSUE ACROSS THE  STATE IN A NUMBER OF PLACES.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE GAPS AND  APPOINTMENTS ON THE BIG ISLAND AMENDMENTS AND SO ON.

SHALL THE CHARTER, THIS IS MAUI CHARTER, BE AMENDED TO MINIMIZE  THE RISK OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GENERALLY AND  SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO DEDICATED SEATS FOR MEMBERS  RESIDING IN LESS POPULOUS AREAS BY ALLOWING THE APPOINTMENTS OF  MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE  FULL TERMS OR TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

WHOO.

BREAK THIS INTO PIECES FOR ME.

ASH?

>> THIS ISN'T THE SALARY  COMMISSION?

>> NO.

THIS IS THE LENGTH OF  THE COMMISSION TERM.

>> RIGHT NOW THEY NEED TO TAKE  TWO YEARS OFF BETWEEN TERMS.

AND SO YOU END UP -- YOU ALREADY  HAVE VACANCIES ON THE BOARD.

NOW YOU'RE REQUIRING -- PEOPLE  ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE TWO YEARS OFF.

YOU'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO NEW  PEOPLE.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SERVE  CONSECUTIVE TERMS.

>> Daryl: IS THERE A TERM  LIMIT?

>> THEY HAVE TO TAKE TWO YEARS  OFF.

YOU CAN'T SERVE CONSECUTIVE TERMS.

I BELIEVE IS UNIQUE TO MAUI.

HONOLULU YOU CAN SERVE.

>> Daryl: COMMISSIONS IS  FOREVER.

>> THERE WILL BE A TERM LIMIT,  IT WILL BE TWO TERMS RATHER THAN ONE TERM, TWO YEAR BREAK.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF YOU CAN'T GET A QUORUM, YOU CAN'T  GET ANY ACTION DONE.

YOU CAN'T ANYTHING PASSED.

THEY  HAVE IDENTIFIED, IF YOU HAVE THIS ONE-TERM RULE, THERE ARE  TIMES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO  THE BUSINESS.

>> Daryl: YOU END UP WITH A  LOT OF VACANCY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU ALSO SACRIFICE THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU WANT TO DRAW THE RIGHT LINE.

YOU WANT TO BENEFIT FROM  EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET PEOPLE ON THE  COMMISSIONS, ESPECIALLY POWERFUL COMMISSIONS ARE THERE FOREVER.

AND THEY BEGIN TO MONOPOLIZE THE POWER.

BENEFIT FROM EXPERIENCE BUT NO ONE WILL BE SO ENTRENCHED YOU  CAN NEVER GET RID OF THEM.

>> I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE  PERSON -- IF I'M A DENTIST, I KNOW THERE'S A DENTAL BOARD.

IF  I'M A BOXER, I KNOW THERE'S A BOXING BOARD.

IF I'M NOT IN ONE  WAS THESE FIELDS, I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT THINGS ARE OVERSEEN BY  THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF  GOVERNMENT.

WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS DO THEY DO?

>> ON MAUI?

>> Daryl: ANYWHERE.

GENERALLY.

>> THE COUNTIES AND STATE  HAVE -- HOW MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS?

>> COUNTLESS.

>> MAUI HAS, LIKE, 37.

>> Daryl: 37 ONE ISLAND?

>> ONE COUNTY.

>> Daryl:   WHAT ARE THE MORE OBSCURE ONES?

GIVE ME THREE OR FOUR EXAMPLES.

>> PLANNING COMMISSION DEAL WITH  PERMITS.

LIQUOR COMMISSION.

THERE'S PROBABLY A ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND A BUNCH I DON'T  KNOW.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE MOST  POWERFUL.

>> IF YOU GO BACK TO WHAT WE  WERE TALKING WITH HONOLULU RULES AND DO WE WANT A COMMISSION OF  OCEAN SAFETY.

EVERY TIME WE CREATE A NEW  DEPARTMENT OR ENTITY, WE ALSO CREATE A COMMISSION OVERSEE THAT  TO HAVE A CHECK ON THAT DEPARTMENT.

>> Daryl: PEOPLE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT.

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS THE GOAL.

YES, IT DOES.

GOVERNMENT ASK A BIG BUSINESS,  WITH A VERY DISPERSED THE SET OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO WE END UP WITH LOTS OF THINGS.

MAYBE SOME ARE OUT OF DATE.

>> Daryl: THERE WAS A SUNSET  LAW THAT SAID YOU NEEDED TO REVIEW -- I THINK HONOLULU.

EVERY X AMOUNT OF TIME.

WHETHER A DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY  EVEN NEEDS TO EXIST.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO THAT ANYMORE.

>> LIKE A CHARTER.

LIKE REVIEW COMMITTEE.

I THINKS EVERY TEN.

>> Daryl: IT'S COMPLETELY  IRRELEVANT.

I GOT A COUPLE MORE.

THAT'S CHARTER COMMISSION.

I GOT A COUPLE MORE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE SHOW ON  BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

>> Daryl: WE CAN GO OUT FOR A  DRINK AND DO THIS.

OKAY.

ANOTHER MAUI CHARTER  AMENDMENT.

I'M WATCHING MY CLOCK CAREFULLY.

SHALL THE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE SALARY COMMISSION TO  DETERMINE SALARIES INSTEAD OF COMPENSATION FOR ELECTED  OFFICIALS AND APPOINTED DIRECTORS ARE DEPUTY DIRECTORS  TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND REMOVE FISCAL  BARRIERS TO CREATE EQUITY SUCH AS REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL COST?

COLIN.

>> THIS IS VERY TECHNICAL.

MY UNDERSTANDING BASICALLY IS THAT RATHER THAN REFERRING  SALARIES, THEY REFER TO COMPENSATIONS IN THE MAUI  CHARTER.

THAT CREATES PROBLEMS WHEN YOU  TALK ABOUT REIMBURSING COUNCILMEMBERS FOR TRAVEL.

THE OTHER COUNTY SAY SALARIES.

>> Daryl: TO A CERTAIN EXTENT  SEMANTIC BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS -- >> EXACTLY.

THIS IS ONE I WOULD CLEARLY RECOMMEND VOTING YES.

I DON'T  SEE ANY DOWN SIDE.

>> Daryl: FIVE MINUTES FOR  KAUA'I.

SO POLICE COMMISSION'S 90-DAY  WINDOW FOR REPORTING WRITTEN INVESTIGATION RESULTS START WHEN  THE COMMISSION RECEIVES THE INVESTIGATION REPORT?

THE DEADLINE ON HOW LONG THE POLICE COMMISSION CAN RESPOND TO  A COMPLAINT.

>> SO THE POLICE COMMISSION  WANTED THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT SOMETIMES TAKE  LONGER TO DO 90 DAYS TO DO AN INVESTIGATION OR EVEN HIRE A  CONTRACTOR.

THIS WOULD GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO GET THAT DONE.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE PANEL?

AS I READ IT, IF THIS PASSES, IT WOULD BE 90 DAYS, BUT IT WILL  HAVE NO RESTRICTION, NO DEADLINE ON HOW LONG THEY WILL HAVE TO DO  THE INVESTIGATION.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, YES.

>> BASICALLY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING  IS GOING INTO TWO PARTS VERSUS  90 DAYS TOTAL.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

>> SECOND IS 90 DAYS TOTAL.

FIRST IS THERE'S NO RESTRICTION  ON IT.

>> Daryl: BASICALLY, IT SAYS,  GET ON IT.

[LAUGHTER]  >> IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME.

>> Daryl: GIVES THEM MORE  TIME.

>> THEY DO THE INVESTIGATION,  AND THEY HAVE 90 DAYS TO ISSUE THE REPORT.

>> Daryl: SHALL THE COST CONTROL COMMISSION BE AUTHORIZED  TO RECOMMEND INCREASED COSTS IF THEY ARE EXPECTED TO GENERATE  FUTURE COST SAVINGS?

>> IS THIS HAWAI'I COUNTY?

>> Daryl: KAUA'I?

>> BASICALLY, HE WAS A VICE  CHAIR OF THE COST CONTROL COMMISSION BUT CHAIR NOW.

THE THEORY IS SOMETIMES THEY'VE GOT TO SPEND MONEY TO SAVE  MONEY.

ONE OF THE EXAMPLES FROM THAT  WAS WHEN SOME YEARS AGO, THEY CREATED DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN  RESOURCES FOR THE COUNTY.

AT ONE POINT, ALL KAUA'I  DEPARTMENTS HAD THEIR OWN HR STAFF.

WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS  PROPOSE THESE THINGS.

IT MIGHT COST MONEY UPFRONT, BUT  IN THE LONG RUN WOULD SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY.

>> Daryl: GIVES THEM MORE  FLEXIBILITY.

OKAY.

5% OF OPEN SPACE BE  AVAILABLE OPEN SPACE FUND BE AVAILABLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF  LAND, PROPERTY ENTITLEMENT OR IMPROVEMENT PAID FOR BY FUND?

ANY CONTROVERSY?

KAUA'I?

>> I DON'T REALLY KNOW.

>> NOT ON THE LIST OF QUESTIONS.

>> THE CHAIR OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION TOLD ME THEY HAVE A  BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO USE EQUIPMENT TO TAKE CARE OF  OPEN OF THESE SPACES.

THIS IS A WAY TO GIVE THEM SOME  COMPENSATION BECAUSE THEY'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO.

>> Daryl: THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN ON  KAUA'I.

GET THE TRACTOR OVER THERE.

GO TAKE CARE OF IT.

SO SHALL CHARTER AMENDMENT BE ALLOW USE OF INSURANCE POLICIES  FOR EMPLOYEES -- COLIN?

>> THIS IS ABOUT THE BONDS.

REAL QUICKLY, TO PROVIDE MORE  FLEXIBILITY FOR KAUA'I COUNTY TO PROVIDE AND ENSURE -- PROVIDE  INSURANCE FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

INSURES THEM OR THE COUNTY?

>> THE COUNTY.

>> Daryl: OKAY.

SHALL CHARTER BE AMENDED TO ESTABLISH AN EX  OFFICIO POSITION FOR YOUTHS ON BOARD COMMISSIONS TO BE FILLED  BY KAUA'I RESIDENT HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS OR SENIORS?

SOUNDS LIKE A FINE THING TO ME.

>> DO THIS CAME FROM A HIGH  SCHOOL SENIOR FOR HER SENIOR PROJECT.

PROPOSED A SIMILAR CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR ONE SEAT ON A  COMMISSION.

CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION,   SINCE SHE WAS 18, THEY MADE HER A COMMISSIONER.

AND THEN DECIDED  WHY DON'T WE EXPAND THIS TO EVERY BOARD AND COMMISSION ON  KAUAI.

>> Daryl: I LOVE YOUNG HEROS  LIKE THAT.

GOOD FOR HER.

MAHALO FOR ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND WE THANK  OUR GUESTS...

POLITICAL ANALYST COLIN MOORE  AND ASHLEY MIZUO FROM HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO,  BLAZE LOVELL FROM HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT AND JUDITH MILLS WONG FROM  THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAWAII.

NEXT WEEK WE, WE'RE BACK TO SITTING DOWN WITH THE  CANDIDATES, THIS TIME FEATURING CANDIDATES FOR MAUI COUNTY  COUNCIL VYING TO REPRESENT THE UPCOUNTRY AND KAHULUI DISTRICTS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON  PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA.