Why I’m supporting Fred Blas for Council

[Rob Tucker]

Why I’m supporting Fred Blas for Council
 
With the primary two weeks past and the general election approaching I want to offer you my rationale for my support of Fred Blas for Council District 5. It is not difficult and I do not have to wrestle with my conscience to say that Fred Blas has my vote on November 2nd.
 
I have met Fred while working on different ends of various local problems and have come to admire his ability to gather people to work on project or issue after another.  With Fred I shared a meeting with Public Works one day and in close quarters Fred has a natural talent in getting the cooperation of county officials.  It is a talent that I think will serve Puna well.
 
Fred has expressed to me that being on council is not a lifelong dream and he does not need the job.  In talking about the situation Puna is in and the current level of council representation Fred told me, “Something has to be done.”  I agree with this.
 
It is not a small thing to nearly daily head out the door and work physically in the sun cleaning up our streets, parks and town, as Fred is doing.  This should not be under appreciated.  There is motivation involved and it calls forth hands-on dirty work.  Fred is not afraid of work and knows something basic and valuable.  He took on the role of Chairman of the Weed & Seed Pahoa Beautification Committee and if you have paid any attention.... he takes the position seriously.

No one wants to get in a wagon that’s stuck in the mud and going nowhere.  But pump up the tires and get that wagon rolling and people will climb on board.  And they have.  In this day and age, in Puna, it is a major accomplishment to motivate people to community service.  I know.  I have tried myself with varying levels of success.  Boots on the ground are hard to come by.  Fred has put boots on the ground.
 
I have found Fred to be a careful listener.  In my conversations with him I have put forth some ideas and found he pays attention.  He has generally preferred to say he will think about it.  Not quick to commit.  I have the impression Fred likes to spend his time getting things done and too much talking detracts from that goal.  The day after the primary he and his crew were out weed whacking a roadside.  This is not the action of someone motivated by vanity.
 
It would be nice if he would open up more.  In the position he is now in as front runner for Council District 5 there are a lot of people wanting to know his position on this and that.  If you would like the opportunity to speak with him and learn more about where he stands on the issues, you will have an excellent opportunity coming up on October 17th from 11 am to 1 pm at the Nanawale Long House.   You will have an opportunity if you take it to ask him yourself. 
 
There is nothing about Fred Blas that causes me concern about his ability to represent Puna Makai in a respectful and appropriate manner.  I have been told by another council person that Emily Naeole-Beason, being in possession of the “swing vote” on council, could have gotten Puna everything and anything Puna needed or wanted these past four years.  I am convinced that Emily was not even very aware of the scope of the opportunity.  I am also convinced that Fred Blas, if placed in a similar situation, will not squander the moment.
 
I have no expectation of my agreeing with Fred on everything.  I have no concerns about Fred being labeled a conservative.  Our district is comprised of many different people who run the gamut of political persuasions.  I am extremely interested in having a council member who can figure out what is needed, how to get it done and move straight forward to a successful completion.
 
It is reassuring to me that Fred has been in business and had enough success to retire.  Operating a business  well enough to sell it profitably to another person requires some skills.  You have to be able to handle the books and read the balance sheets.  You have to be able to handle your employees and customers.  You have to deliver.  If you can’t count the beans, control your costs, provide a useful product or service you fail.  So Fred’s history is a level of experience I think we can all welcome.  Our county could use some of that.
 
I will suggest that a hopeful goal of anyone running for public office is to win in a manner that does not leave you compromised.  Trying to make too many promises to too many people and groups creates expectations that are bound to go unmet.  It is not possible to be all things to all people.  It is possible to do your best for the benefit of everyone you represent.  Fred is currently nicely poised to do just that.

I am very reassured by some of the people in Fred’s campaign. People I trust and I have known a long time and I have the utmost respect for.
 
I find it fitting that Fred Blas operated a tire company before moving to Puna.  Tires are where the rubber meets the road.  Tires operate by providing traction.  Fred Blas has traction and I am convinced he will take Puna in a direction that has been lacking for a number of years.
 
Mahalo,

Rob Tucker
 

[DaVinci]

Rob: I have no concerns about Fred being labeled a conservative.
Me: Well I do. Blas's priorities are not shared by me, so when he "figure[s] out what is needed" just exactly who decides what that is? And what the hell will that look like? Will Blas figure out that the County should back away from the lowest priority instruction to the police force? Will he figure out that we Punatics ought to just donate our time and sweat and money to fix our own roads? Will he figure out that developers and big business should always get a free pass without question, so the almighty quest for jobs can be fulfilled? Do we know what he stands for? Will he ever come clean and articulate his positions before being handed the keys to the castle? I am glad that you are so sanguine Rob. I however, can't sleep very well these days....

Rob: (Blas knows how to count beans.) Our county could use some of that.
Me: Our district maybe could use some of that, but I think the county has quite a fair share of intelligent, thoughtful, experienced people. Yagong, Ford, et al., are continuing their good work for the county, and to suggest that it (the county) is bereft of intelligent and experienced people is insulting to those council members. And as an added bonus, they are progressive. And as a double added bonus, when you ask them about their position on an issue, they just tell you. Simply. Without condition or cloyish political winking or game playing. Our district could use some of that too.

[JerryCarr]

As someone who voted for James Weatherford in the primary, I will also be supporting Fred Blas in the general election. Although he wasn't my first choice, he is my second choice for all the reasons Rob gives plus more. I have found the tendency of the incumbent, Emily Naeole-Beason, to insert religion into just about every discussion and meeting to be worse than annoying. She has insulted any number of people on any number of levels, and sometimes on personal and hurtful level. We need a change.

A lot of people complain because Fred was once a Republican, but I don't hold that against him. In fact, when they sent out some campaign materials he thought went too far, he got upset and later resigned from the party. In Hawaii, voting for a reformed Republican can be the progressive thing to do, especially when one considers that the "good old boys (and girls) club" is just about 100% machine Democrats who are responsible for a lot of the mess around here.

Fred has agreed to appear at some events where people will have a chance to ask him questions. I wish he would have done this sooner and participated in some forums, but he hopefully will put to rest some of the negativity attached to his previous lack of public statements. I really think we need to give Fred a chance. If he somehow manages to be worse than Emily, (and I can't imagine how he could) we can vote him out in two years.

[Rob Tucker]

DaVinci,

We are not electing a king. We are electing one of nine council members. But if your primary concern is based on thinking that our county council can actually remove civil and/or criminal penalties for marijuana then it really doesn;t matter who you vote for because the county will not determine the issue. Fred has published a number of his concerns and they are pretty much in line with mine.

Emily has been in office for four years and her cousin Billy has been in office for two years and they accomplished exactly what to implement The Lowest Priority?

We know that Emily votes with the Hilo majority who are, point in fact, very, very conservative. My suggestion regarding Fred is to assume the best and ask questions. You do not have to make up your mind today.

[DaVinci]

I wasn't suggesting that Emily would be better. In fact, if forced to choose between Emily and Blas, I would vote for Blas. I just don't share your obvious happiness over that choice. I understand that you supported Blas in the primary as well, over James Weatherford. I supported James, and I suppose I am still nursing a grievance over the loss. Not quite ready to move on. Thanks, by the way, for the civics lesson. I had no idea that this county was not a monarchy. I am also thrilled to hear that Fred and you share so many concerns. That alone eases all of my trepidations. Peace.

[Rob Tucker]

Actually I supported no council candidate in the primary. I was too busy working on the Fuel Tax Revenue (FTR) proposal. I did help Tony Marzi as best I could with the time I had. I felt that all three challengers for the council were all capable representatives for our district. I still think that way.

[JerryCarr]

For once, Puna was blessed with several competent challengers for the current Council Rep. The fact that the supporters of a losing candidate (I supported James W. in the primary) would be disappointed and even perhaps aggrieved over the loss is understandable, but there comes a point where that needs to be secondary to the bigger picture. Do I have some misgivings about Fred? Yes, I do, but I also had some about James, and I still voted for him.

Fred has now signed a written pledge to support the property tax set-aside for land preservation. This is a key piece of progressive legislation that the current Council and Emily Naeole-Beason voted to ditch. Hopefully, open communication and clear policy pledges such as this will become more frequent from Fred.

[DaVinci]

Have you talked with Tony lately? I heard he was seriously considering leaving the island due to a lack of job opportunities. That would be a sad turn of events.