09-22-2008, 01:31 PM
This will be my one and only post on this topic.
In September 2006, I voted for Russell Ruderman.
In November 2006, I did not want to vote for Gary Safarik, but had less than stellar confidence in Emily Naeole's ability to do what needs to be done.
When I got inside the voting booth (paper ballot, thank you) I looked down at the names and there was just no way I could vote for Gary Safarik.
My experience over the previous 4 years as a constituent trying in vain to communicate to my elected local government representative, and then as a Council staff watching his behavior, informed me of too much negative that I could not pretend did not exist.
Is Naeole a great Council member? No.
However, based on what I have seen her do and what I know about the Council process, there is 100% certainty in my statement that, compared to Gary Safarik, Emily Naeole will do a better job of representing her constituency's expressed interests, albeit requiring an above average amount of input from that same constituency.
She will hear people when they speak clearly. In the Wheelabrator public hearings she listened and heard and voted accordingly; in the Puna CDP process, although initially straying badly, in the end she was very conciliatory and offered no further obstacle to implementation.
Can Emily Naeole be depended on to have learnt from the difficulties she created for herself -- including appointment of destructive staff and getting sucked in by opponents to the PCDP -- in her first term?
The only answer I can give to that is to say I have more confidence in being able to respond 'yes' than I can in answering 'yes' to this question:
'Has Gary Safarik learnt his lesson about being serious in listening to and heeding his constituents better than he did in 3 previous terms?'
To this question, my experience and instinct tells me to answer, 'no', I cannot be confident that Gary Safarik will be any different, any more concerned and empathetic with his many constituents struggling to make a go of it in their new home, and any less xenophobic and aloof than he was for those 6 years.
In the interest of all people the District 5 Council being heard by their member, my vote must go to Emily Naeole.
Aloha
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
In September 2006, I voted for Russell Ruderman.
In November 2006, I did not want to vote for Gary Safarik, but had less than stellar confidence in Emily Naeole's ability to do what needs to be done.
When I got inside the voting booth (paper ballot, thank you) I looked down at the names and there was just no way I could vote for Gary Safarik.
My experience over the previous 4 years as a constituent trying in vain to communicate to my elected local government representative, and then as a Council staff watching his behavior, informed me of too much negative that I could not pretend did not exist.
Is Naeole a great Council member? No.
However, based on what I have seen her do and what I know about the Council process, there is 100% certainty in my statement that, compared to Gary Safarik, Emily Naeole will do a better job of representing her constituency's expressed interests, albeit requiring an above average amount of input from that same constituency.
She will hear people when they speak clearly. In the Wheelabrator public hearings she listened and heard and voted accordingly; in the Puna CDP process, although initially straying badly, in the end she was very conciliatory and offered no further obstacle to implementation.
Can Emily Naeole be depended on to have learnt from the difficulties she created for herself -- including appointment of destructive staff and getting sucked in by opponents to the PCDP -- in her first term?
The only answer I can give to that is to say I have more confidence in being able to respond 'yes' than I can in answering 'yes' to this question:
'Has Gary Safarik learnt his lesson about being serious in listening to and heeding his constituents better than he did in 3 previous terms?'
To this question, my experience and instinct tells me to answer, 'no', I cannot be confident that Gary Safarik will be any different, any more concerned and empathetic with his many constituents struggling to make a go of it in their new home, and any less xenophobic and aloof than he was for those 6 years.
In the interest of all people the District 5 Council being heard by their member, my vote must go to Emily Naeole.
Aloha
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park