Janice Palma-Glennie

Aloha, susan,I appreciate your enthusiasm, and believe, as you obviously do, that community involvement is everything for a democratic system to function properly. Must tell you — since I can’t attend your meeting -- that I do not support division of Hawai`i County for many reasons. I think there are other ways to make things more fair for West Hawai`i and more balanced for the whole island (which may or may not include different city mayors, county manager, east and west planning commissions, etc.). Splitting the county would not, in itself, seem to be the silver bullet to insure that government will work better and more fairly. A lot depends upon who is elected to office and the system under which those people work. It seems that getting the right people to run for office (with the potential of actually winning elections) is becoming more of a problem than the differences in island areas. Until the idea of serving in government is regarded by the majority of the public as an honorable, selfless and potentially beneficial way to serve one’s community, then the type of person who is inclined to run for office will become, more and more, one who can raise money or has enough money or plans to be a consultant a few years down the road to get money, etc, etc -- an even greater danger to the democratic process than from where a person hails on the island. No offense intended, but I think the idea of splitting the county is, well, a bit of a haole concept. It doesn't, I don't think, take into consideration that the indigenous population of this island is made up of families that are scattered from north, south, west and east — yet inextricably connected. The idea of one island being two counties reminds me of haiti and dominican republic -- a division that has created one of the weirdest and most unfair political and social nightmares in the eastern hemisphere (though I know that is quite a stretch from the much smaller idea of separating a county). Still, it does come to mind, and even a person who flies over that small island can see the disparity and dysfunction that can occur when one island is artificially cut into two).Mahalo again for your input and vigilence. Best wishes for a safe, healthy New Year for you, your ohana, and all of us who share this, Hawai`i Island.Best regards,Janice Palma-Glennie