We have mixed feelings about some of the proposed amendments to the County Charter.
As expressed in a recent editorial, we're definitely against the proposal to increase council terms from two to four years. The current system is not broken - council members are immediately accountable for their actions.
At first, we thought the establishment of the office of a county auditor was a good idea. But, frankly, the explanation of the office on the county website seemed to be so much bureaucratese that we fear the establishment of an auditor's office may do the opposite of its intention.
If it is anything like its description, it will add to the bureaucracy - not streamline and make the government more efficient.
That said, there are two amendments that should definitely be approved.
Amendment Six deals with residency requirements for council members. It increases the length of time one must be a resident of an area to represent it from 90 days to one year.
It also provides for immediate resignation if a council member moves out of the district he/she is representing.
Amendment Seven puts the same time requirements on someone running for mayor. He/she must be a resident of Maui County for at least one year instead of the current 90 days. This seems to be merely common sense, so we'd support this amendment.
We'd urge voters to adopt these two amendments.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
