09-22-2008, 04:13 PM
I'm reserving judgement on this one for a while. Surely someone will organize a debate or two between now and the general election, and hopefully they will have a citizen question component. I have questions for both of them. For me, it will all come down to who seems best able to get the job done, and not who has pissed off the most people. They've both done plenty of that, just in different ways.
It's a 'given' in Puna politics that Ms. Naeole is accessible and easy to talk to. I can personally confirm that, and I have had several cordial conversations with her. I'm just not sure she is ready to LISTEN to her constituents unless she is confronted by the figurative hammer of an angry citizenry headed straight for her forehead. It shouldn't be so hard to get her real attention. And then there is the pencil throwing and name calling problem. I could go on, but it's all been said.
Mr. Safarik got voted out last time, and I think it was only partly because of his ascerbic personality. Other factors were citizen impatience with the pace of improvements in the district and Ms. Naeole's very effective voter registration efforts. At the Pahoa forum, I asked Gary Safarik why we should give him a second chance. He said all the right words in response, but many there were not convinced. I need more convincing, but am willing to consider him.
Most people in this district do not participate in intellectual exercises on blogs like I do. Many don't particularly care if they can have a cordial conversation with their Councilperson. What most of them really want is someone to represent them who will effectively deal with the problems of the district.
Stay tuned. This is going to be very interesting.
Cheers,
Jerry
It's a 'given' in Puna politics that Ms. Naeole is accessible and easy to talk to. I can personally confirm that, and I have had several cordial conversations with her. I'm just not sure she is ready to LISTEN to her constituents unless she is confronted by the figurative hammer of an angry citizenry headed straight for her forehead. It shouldn't be so hard to get her real attention. And then there is the pencil throwing and name calling problem. I could go on, but it's all been said.
Mr. Safarik got voted out last time, and I think it was only partly because of his ascerbic personality. Other factors were citizen impatience with the pace of improvements in the district and Ms. Naeole's very effective voter registration efforts. At the Pahoa forum, I asked Gary Safarik why we should give him a second chance. He said all the right words in response, but many there were not convinced. I need more convincing, but am willing to consider him.
Most people in this district do not participate in intellectual exercises on blogs like I do. Many don't particularly care if they can have a cordial conversation with their Councilperson. What most of them really want is someone to represent them who will effectively deal with the problems of the district.
Stay tuned. This is going to be very interesting.
Cheers,
Jerry