07-22-2018, 05:33 PM
What struck me listening to the last candidate forum was that Kanealii-Kleinfelder and Eileen O’Hara were the two candidates who specifically mentioned that they wanted to hear from their constituents. Listen to them and form policy based on the feedback they received. That, to me, is significant in a representative position. I remember that Jen Ruggles also made it clear two years ago that she wanted to know what were the priorities of the people living in her district.
Jen learned a lot on the job, and I wish she was going to continue, but I am buoyed by the thought that Kanealii-Kleinfelder also seems sincerely interested in serving the needs of our district. He and O’Hara and Ashley were vocal in their support of the PCDP also, which is and remains a valuable blueprint moving forward. Wirick specifically dismissed that document, which disturbed me. His ideas about how to move forward seem top-down and dictatorial, as if he would rather tell us all what is best for us than listen to what we’d like to see happen. We’re a residential district now. We don’t all want to be farmers. We don’t all want to turn away those shipping containers from the mainland. (Pretty sure Hawaii farmers still don’t know how to grow scotch...)
Kanealii-Kleinfelder is young and he’d have to learn on the job. This is true. But he also admitted as much. He’s confident, and he knows his strengths and he seems willing to admit to his weaknesses and work on them. And his desire to serve the community and his reasons for wanting to do that seem sincere. He reminds me a lot of Jen Ruggles, who two years ago didn’t have much experience either. Maybe if we can get Kanealii-Kleinfelder elected alongside Eileen O’Hara, she can teach him a thing or two and bring him up to speed.
I’m voting for Matt.
Jen learned a lot on the job, and I wish she was going to continue, but I am buoyed by the thought that Kanealii-Kleinfelder also seems sincerely interested in serving the needs of our district. He and O’Hara and Ashley were vocal in their support of the PCDP also, which is and remains a valuable blueprint moving forward. Wirick specifically dismissed that document, which disturbed me. His ideas about how to move forward seem top-down and dictatorial, as if he would rather tell us all what is best for us than listen to what we’d like to see happen. We’re a residential district now. We don’t all want to be farmers. We don’t all want to turn away those shipping containers from the mainland. (Pretty sure Hawaii farmers still don’t know how to grow scotch...)
Kanealii-Kleinfelder is young and he’d have to learn on the job. This is true. But he also admitted as much. He’s confident, and he knows his strengths and he seems willing to admit to his weaknesses and work on them. And his desire to serve the community and his reasons for wanting to do that seem sincere. He reminds me a lot of Jen Ruggles, who two years ago didn’t have much experience either. Maybe if we can get Kanealii-Kleinfelder elected alongside Eileen O’Hara, she can teach him a thing or two and bring him up to speed.
I’m voting for Matt.