Posted on: Thursday, October 28, 2004

Honolulu City Charter ballot issues fail to generate much voter interest

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu voters will decide Tuesday whether to provide job security to certain city workers and allow the City Council to appoint a replacement if one of its members is deployed by the military.

The issues are among four proposed amendments to the City Charter that sparked little controversy as the council prepared them for the general election ballot. The charter will be changed if a simple majority of voters approve any of the measures; ballots left blank do not count.

The first measure would make the Neighborhood Commission's 16 staff members part of the civil service system, rather than appointees who serve at the mayor's discretion.

Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, who supports all the amendments, said granting the workers job security would ensure stability and reduce the number of jobs that can be awarded through political patronage.

But Councilman Charles Djou, one of three who voted against putting the measure on the ballot, said that making the workers civil service employees would reduce the city's flexibility and that no one presented a strong argument supporting the change. Council members Mike Gabbard and Barbara Marshall also voted in opposition.

The Neighborhood Commission, a nine-member panel appointed by the mayor and council, assists with the formation and operation of the 35 neighborhood boards elected by community members. The commission members and its executive secretary would remain appointees if the amendment is approved.

The council unanimously agreed to put the other proposed amendments on the ballot. Mayor Jeremy Harris has no opinion on any of the proposals, a spokeswoman said.

The second amendment would require that five of the nine appointees to the Neighborhood Commission be veterans of at least one term on a neighborhood board. Dela Cruz said the proposal would help ensure that experienced people are appointed to the commission. Djou said the proposal is "unnecessary but harmless."

The third amendment allows the council to appoint a temporary replacement for any council member deployed by the military. Djou, a first lieutenant in the Army Reserve, is the only current council member in Reserve or National Guard. He has not been called to active duty.

Djou said allowing the council to appoint a replacement could save the city the expense of a special election if a member is called for duty. Dela Cruz said the measure would ensure that all council districts are represented in the event a member is deployed.

The last amendment would clarify when a Charter Commission should be convened to consider future charter changes. The measure would provide for a commission that would serve next year to be appointed by Dec. 1, and to be appointed after every year that ends in the numeral 4.

Dela Cruz said the commission should consider whether Harris' 1998 reorganization of city government has been effective or should be revisited. The changes abolished some city departments and consolidated their functions under others.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.