Ruderman vs Ilagan

[kalakoa]

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news...an-primary

Hoping the Red Road Anti-Progress Coalition shows their colors -- PunaWeb just isn't the same without their ... contribution.

[Chunkster]

I have mixed feelings about this one. While I'm not a fan of Ruderman, Ilagan has not really accomplished that much on the council, and he is just at the point where we might expect him to have built the relationships and gravitas to finally get some real improvements for Puna. Instead, Ilagan is flogging a park to be built in HPP with borrowed money and running for higher office. When asked his position on controversial issues, he has the tendency to smile a lot and say he needs to research it. Some people like that, but I see it as just a way to avoid offending anyone. A friend of mine asked Ilagan his opinion about an alternate route across HPP when he ran the first time, and he gave the "I need time" answer. Two years later he said the same thing to the same person.

As is so often the case with Puna politicians, it will come down to choosing the least unattractive candidate. And to add to the fun, the very un-democratic Democratic primary has no runoff and is an automatic route into office. Ruderman got in with about 36% of the primary vote, IIRC.

[shockwave rider]

I cannot think of a single thing Illagan has done that would justify his re-election to the county council, much less stepping up to a statewide office. He would be so far out of his league in Honolulu if elected that the Big Island would be virtually unrepresented.

A friend of mine met with him well before the whole lava flow emergency came up to discuss the need for Hawaii county to at least identify the route where the PMAR would eventually go. My friends were looking at buying land in HPP and building their dream home, but did not want to buy on a possible PMAR route, which eliminated the middle swath of the HPP. Illagan said all the right things, said he stayed away from the issue before the election, but he understood the need for clarity and would push for some community meetings to work towards determining the route. Then, almost as soon as he was reelected he announces he is running for different office and became an instant lame duck who doesn't want to offend any potential voters. So here is an issue that will greatly impact the people who live on this part of the Island and he does nothing for years.

Can anyone tell me a single initiative, action or piece of legislation he has worked for to benefit the people of his district, or even the county as a whole? I pay attention to local politics and cannot think of a single one. I understand a steep learning curve for such a young office holder in his first term, but this term hasn't shown that he grew into the job in any real way.

[kalakoa]

Can anyone tell me a single initiative, action or piece of legislation he has worked for to benefit the people of his district, or even the county as a whole?

Compared to whom? "Tax It" Willie?

[Obie]

PUNA, HAWAI’I — Neighborhood Watch Groups throughout Puna gather and meet once a month to share information, receive training and exchange ideas on how to effectively protect their communities. Prior to the creation of Puna Watch, Neighborhood Watch groups operated with minimal interaction with each other. “By working together we can make our communities safer,” said Councilman Ilagan. This desire to increase security in Puna’s neighborhoods fueled the creation of Puna Watch.

[Obie]

Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawai’i — It was no joke; prior to April 1, 2013 approximately 12,000 people in Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) had no bus route. Residents walked dangerous distances to access public transportation along hazardous roadways day and night. This was a safety and quality of life issue that Councilman Greggor Ilagan wanted to rectify immediately.

“The community needs this bus service to access necessary social and medical services,” said Council Member Ilagan. He worked closely with the Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Assocation (HPPOA) Board of Directors, Mass Transit Administrator Tiffany Kai, and Mayor Billy Kenoi to bring a dedicated bus route through the community.

[Chunkster]

Obie, the HPP bus route was in the works long before Ilagan got elected. He came late to the party and took credit for something that would have happened anyway. I know two people in HPP who worked on this for years, and they were dismayed when Ilagan claimed he was the one who got it done. Billy Kenoi (of whom I am no fan) was confronted about this at a meeting in HPP that I attended, and it was after that when the bus route got approved.

[Obie]

He is the one that finished the job.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

Can anyone tell me a single initiative, action or piece of legislation he has worked for to benefit the people of his district, or even the county as a whole?

Compared to whom? "Tax It" Willie?

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I did not ask for a comparison, I asked if anyone can identify an action from the counselor.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by Obie

PUNA, HAWAI’I — Neighborhood Watch Groups throughout Puna gather and meet once a month to share information, receive training and exchange ideas on how to effectively protect their communities. Prior to the creation of Puna Watch, Neighborhood Watch groups operated with minimal interaction with each other. “By working together we can make our communities safer,” said Councilman Ilagan. This desire to increase security in Puna’s neighborhoods fueled the creation of Puna Watch.

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If Ilagan is taking credit for Neighborhood Watches, which existed long before he was born, he is more of a politician than I thought. Puna Watch is a community driven initiative started by active Neighborhood Watches who reached out to one another. I have friends who were integral to the effort and Ilagan had virtually nothing to do with it other than getting his name in the paper. Just because a politician's name is in the paper in connection with an initiative it doesn't mean they actually did anything.

I asked for evidence of something he actually did for the citizen's of Puna or the County, I am still unconvinced he has done anything more than coat tail on citizen initiatives.