Candidate Forums Scheduled

[Rene Siracusa]

Malama O Puna is expanding on its tradition to hold candidate forums; this year we will hold three forums.
Tuesday, July 17: State House and State Senate
Tuesday, July 24: Mayor
Wednesday,July 25: County Council Districts 4 & 5

All forums will take place at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m.

The format: Each candidate will be given 5 minutes to introduce him/herself. Then Malama O Puna will ask several environmental questions - same questions for each candidate. After a break, the floor will be open to the public to ask questions.

If you know someone who has already filed their papers or plans to do so, please let them know about these forums and ask them to contact malamaopuna@yahoo.com to confirm their attendance.

mahalo,
Rene Siracusa

[james weatherford]

Thank you, Rene, for organizing the forums and doing so well in advance so that all candidates can put it on their calendar.
I look forward to this forum, and am encouraging other organizations, such as community associations, to also sponsor candidate forums.

[csgray]

Rene,
Do you have confirmation that Fred Blas, who totally skipped, or left early, so many of the candidate forums last time will actually show up? It is very disappointing to take time out of a busy schedule because you want to hear what ALL the candidates have to say, and then have one consistently not make himself available to voters. If an incumbent does that it is even worse, since they should be able to articulate what they have done while in office and justify why they deserve a second term.

Carol

[JerryCarr]

I applaud Rene and Malama O Puna for providing this valuable opportunity to get to know the candidates. I frequently attend these sorts of events to better inform myself, and they have made a difference in my vote in the past.

As far as the mostly absent Fred Blas is concerned, I don't think he worries much about these matters. After eleven years of observation, seven of which I have been a registered voter here, I have come to the conclusion that most Puna voters make their decision based on things other than candidate forums and blogs. Family and ethnic considerations, coconut wireless reports, observable and concrete action in the community, and direct one to one outreach from the candidates seem to be more important.

I'm not saying Fred shouldn't attend these events or shouldn't care about them. The relatively small number of us who emphasize them could make a difference in a close race. It's just that his lack of participation last time didn't seem to hurt him that much. I suppose this time could be different, but this is a culturally conservative community that doesn't change its social habits quickly.

[IKE]

ALOHA RENE, im ike payne and i shall be there for district 4 ...will make sure to put it on my calendar

IKE PAYNE

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha Ike.

Ike, perhaps you could post a new introductory topic here in the Politics/Election section tellng us about yourself and your positions on issues that you feel are important.

Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator

[Rene Siracusa]

I have put Ike Payne on my list for Council 4. Ike - email me at malamaopuna@yahoo.com with your contact info so I can send you more info.

Fred was invited but informed me that he will have a family reunion in July on Oahu and doesn't have the exact date yet, so he doesn't know if he will have a conflict or not.

James has already confirmed. For Council D. 5 I have a confirmation from Zendo Kern. For State Senate I have a confirmation from Gil Kahele. Since candidates still have several months to file, not all of them have been notified yet. I am trying to get email addresses for those who have already pulled papers.