House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Waters, vice chair: Oshiro

Tuesday, January 30, 2007, Conference Room 325

Testifier: Jean Aoki, Legislative Liason, LWV

Click here to view HB304

The League of Women Voters supports HB 304, which, we believe, reflects the expectations of voters of our state in regards to the appointments and elections oƒ replacements to fill the unexpired terms of both federal and state elected officials of our legislative branches who are unable to complete their terms in office. This bill allows the political parties to have a say in who would be suitable replacements for elected officials who belong to their respective parties. It allows the districts continued representation by someone with similar political views as the prior incumbent, and, we hope, gives people in the district the opportunity to voice their opinions to party leaders. The bill also removes some of the opportunities that now exist to circumvent what even the present statutes we’re sure intended to have happen. That the U.S. Senate is today one senator away from a shift in the balance of power is drama enough. The fact that the shift depends on the survival of the incumbent from an illness because of a law in South Dakota that allows the governor to pick someone from a different party as his replacement should that become necessary, somehow smacks of the beginning of a melodrama. What happens to voters’ choice? We believe that no matter how it is done, short oƒ a new election, replacements of incumbents should reflect as closely as possible the wishes of the voters who placed the incumbent in office in the first place. We urge the passage of HB 304. Thank you for this opportunity to support it.