HILO — What started as a bill to increase County Council terms from two years to four has morphed through a series of compromises into a bill adding one more two-year term, so council members would be eligible to serve 10 consecutive years before being term-limited.
The compromise measure, Bill 154, faces its second of three required hearings on Tuesday when the council meets at 9 a.m. in Hilo. The public can testify there, or by videoconference from the West Hawaii Civic Center, Waimea council office, Kamehameha Park conference room, Naalehu state office building or the Pahoa neighborhood facility.
Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, the sponsor of the measure, had advocated four-year terms so council members would have more time to work on long-term projects, knowing they would be there to see the project to completion. Her original bill asked for three consecutive four-year terms.
“When I threw it out there for a four-year term, from the testimony, I thought it was pretty clear we needed the two-year term for accountability,” Wille said Wednesday.
Former South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford, who has testified consistently against four-year terms, said she supports the changes Wille made to the bill. Ford said she understands it’s difficult and expensive for council members to interrupt their work every two years to campaign, but it makes better, more accountable government to do so.
“It’s not about the comfort of the council member,” Ford said. “It’s about the will of the people.”
If the bill passes, it would place the question on the ballot, allowing voters to decide in the Nov. 8 general election. If successful there, the county charter would be changed, taking effect with the council members elected in the 2016 election.
Wille said Wednesday she would have preferred a compromise of six consecutive two-year terms, but she went with five to gain support from the more reluctant council members. A two-thirds vote is required to put charter amendments on the ballot.
The most reluctant among the council members is Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, who voted in favor of 10 years, but said Wednesday he still had lingering questions.
“One question is whether 10 years will allow them to qualify for (retirement) health benefits,” Onishi said. “That would be an additional cost to the county.”
Council members currently are limited to four two-year terms before they have to sit out at least a term. Voters adopted the eight-year limit in 1996.
Hawaii’s four counties handle council terms differently. Only Kauai has the same setup as Hawaii County, with four consecutive two-year terms. Honolulu council members can serve two consecutive four-year terms; Maui council members can serve five consecutive two-year terms.
It’s by no means the first time the subject’s come up in Hawaii County.
The council considered a charter amendment in 2005 that would have allowed members to serve six consecutive two-year terms before having to leave office. It was sponsored by Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung, who returned to the council in 2014 after sitting out eight years.
Chung and Wille say council members need more time so they can focus on more long-term projects and fulfill their role as the policy-making body of the county. Two years just isn’t enough time to tackle complex issues such as environmental waste solutions and big road projects, they say.
