Hawai'i County Council terms would be increased to four years under a proposal unanimously advanced by the Charter Commission on Friday, West Hawaii Today reported.

The nine council members are now allowed four two-year terms. The new proposal changes that to two four-year terms. The council terms would not be staggered, because of concerns that two council members could find themselves in the same district during reapportionment.

Alapaki Nahale-a, chairman of an ad-hoc committee on the issue, said two years simply isn't enough time for council members to get up to speed. With two-year terms, the council member has little time in office before he or she is out campaigning again, he said.

"The council members need more time to see pools built and roads on the ground," Nahale-a said. "It takes some time to learn the job."

Nahale-a said the longer terms will be balanced by another ballot amendment that will make it easier for the public to file recall petitions. At present, petitions must be gathered from 25 percent of all registered voters. The new plan is to require petitions from 25 percent of the number who voted in the last election.

The commission also hopes the longer terms will attract high-quality candidates who want to serve the public but don't relish the prospect of sign-waving and fundraising every two years.