Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar
The Hawaii County Redistricting Commission met in Hilo on Thursday.
The appointed group of local residents will shape the Hawaii County district boundaries, possibly altering the political landscape on the Big Island of Hawaii. The commission gets together once per decade, and uses the U.S. Census numbers to get their determinations.
After weeks of delay, the commissioners finally got some hands on training on some new software, designed to make the map making portion of the redistricting process easier.
Of course, this was only a demonstration… the real map making will begin once the interface that allows commissioners to use the software online is live.
One of the early hang-ups in the redistricting process… the question of how to consider nonresident members of the military and students in the drawing of the new political boundaries.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Michael Udovic offered his legal opinion.
The media has reported that the same consideration at the state level could change the landscape of Hawaii, and even gain the Big Island a representative seat.
As the statewide Hawaii Reapportionment Commission debates, as does Hawaii County.
Some commissioners were already expressing concern over how the reapportionment decisions made by the state will impact Hawaii County’s process.
