New Republican Party of Hawaii
  • Why The New GOP
  • The Republican Party – Built On A Firm Foundation
  • How To Build A New GOP Structure
  • What A GOP Candidate In Hawaii Is Up Against
  • New GOP Idea’s and Potential Agenda
    • Broad Based Economic Development
    • Building The Ocean Highway
    • County Empowerment
    • Energy Abundance
    • Hawaiian Empowerment
    • Sustainable Culture
  • Contact Us
DONATE
  • Author admin

How the City & County System Short Circuits Democracy

County Empowerment

This illustrates how democracy is short changed by the City & County system using Council District 3 on the island of Oahu as an example. 

 

District 3- Waimanalo, Kailua and Kaneohe, together the total about 115,000 people.

To compare representation let’s look at Douglas County Oregon which has approximately 107,000 people.  Douglas County has a regular county structure (not city & county) which administers roads, parks, law enforcement, planning and public works, etc.   The county is overseen by a 3 person Board of Commissioners, and elected County Assessor, Auditor, County Clerk , Judge, Sheriff, Surveyor, Treasurer and Justice of the Peace.

Douglas County also has 12 incorporated municipalities.

A working definition of an incorporated municipality can look like the following:

Municipal corporations are an important feature of the political structure of the United States. Incorporating a municipality gives it the freedom to form a society that is distinct from other localities in the state and country.  This idea of local control is the same concept that animates the constitutional division of the country into a collection of smaller states.  By giving municipalities some autonomy, individuals are more capable of participating in politics and gaining a measure of control over their lives than if political activity occurred only on the federal and state level.  a

a
Roseburg is the Douglas County seat and an incorporated municipality, home to about 23,000 people.   It has a Mayor who elected for a two year term and an eight person city council elected on four year terms.   Both the mayor and city council are non-salaried volunteer positions.
a
a
So lets compare the representation of District 3 of the City & County of Honolulu to Douglass County Oregon and the City of Roseburg
a
a
District 3 City & County of Honolulu
Representation:
1- Mayor of Honolulu
1- City Prosecutor
1- City Council Position
a
a
Douglas County
Representation:
1- County Commissioner
1-County Assessor
1-County Auditor
1- County Clerk
1- County Sheriff,
1- County Surveyor
1- County Treasurer
1- Justice Of The Peace
a
a
Roseburg Incorporated Municipality (1 of 12)
Representation:
1- Mayor
8- City Council Representing Different Neighborhoods (Boroughs)
a
a
Hawaii is the ONLY state without incorporated municipalities because of the City & County system established on all island in 1905.   Many of Hawaii’s structural problems can be traced back the fact that there is too little representation for a democratic system to properly function. Establishing true county systems on all island ( Potentially 2- on the Big island, 1- for Maui, Molokai and Lanai, 2- on Oahu and 1- on Kauai) would enable the collaboration and cooperation needed to properly run a 21st Century State.
The Interisland Super Ferry
Giving Hawaiians What Belongs To Them
Related Posts
  • County Level Boards of Education February 23, 2020

Menu

  • Why The New GOP
  • The Republican Party – Built On A Firm Foundation
  • How To Build A New GOP Structure
  • What A GOP Candidate In Hawaii Is Up Against
  • New GOP Idea’s and Potential Agenda
    • Broad Based Economic Development
    • Building The Ocean Highway
    • County Empowerment
    • Energy Abundance
    • Hawaiian Empowerment
    • Sustainable Culture
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • The Systemic One Party State Of Hawaii

    Mar 21, 20250

  • Hawaii’ Monarchist Mindset

    Jan 24, 20240

  • November 1954 On Home Rule In Hawaii

    Jul 25, 20220

  • The Only State in The US Designed To Be

    May 23, 20220

Email Us: newgophawaii@gmail.com

Copyright © New GOP Hawaii 2025: All Rights Reserved.