CANDIDATE FORUMS

[Rene Siracusa]

FYI: Saturday's issue of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald lists all 3 forums in its Calendar section.

[Rene Siracusa]

Emily Naeole has now RSVP'd for June 5th.

[Peter Easterling]

Come on down, Joy San Buenaventura. Show face and let us hear you. I want my vote to be for some one, not merely against the incumbent. Like others, I am inclined to vote for you though some specifics would be appreciated. Hope to see you there, Joy.

[Frankie Stapleton]

Just FYI, Joy said yesterday at her Paradise Park talk story that she had responded by phone and email to Rene Siracusa to take part in the June 19 forum and had not gotten any response or acceptance.

[Rene Siracusa]

@Frankie:

I did not receive any phone calls or messages from Joy. I did get an email from her in which she asked for the format and if the League of Women Voters is involved. It was not an RSVP. It seemed like she was reserving her decision based on my response. I sent what she asked for but have heard nothing back yet one way or the other. If this is a failure to communicate, then please ask her to send me an email with greater clarity.

Mahalo

[Frankie Stapleton]

Hi Rene....just sent your message on to Joy. She said there was no answer or answering machine when she tried to call you. Jes FYI...

[Rene Siracusa]

@ Frankie -

I do have an answer machine, so maybe she misdialed. Anyway, I have asked candidates to email me, which she did once, and I responded, so I know she has my email address. I hope she will rsvp to malamaopuna@yahoo.com

Thanks for passing along the messages.

[Rene Siracusa]

Joy San Buenaventura and I have resolved our communication problems, and she WILL be attending the candidate forum on June 19th.

The latest line-up is as follows:

Council 4, Thursday, June 5th 5:30 pm
Greene
Ilagan
Lozano
Naeole

Council 5, Thursday, June 12 5:30 pm
Almeida
Hunt
Hampton
Paleka
Pueo
NB: Cunningham and Law have not RSVP'd yet.

State House 4, Thursday June 19 5:30 pm
Bronson-Crelly
Hanohano
Jordan
San Buenaventura
NB: Peleiholani and Thomas have not RSVP'd yet

I will continue to keep you updated. BTW, all forums will start ON TIME. mahalo.

[Peter Easterling]

First CANDIDATE FORUM commentary. As promised by Rene, it started on time and was well-attended (by an older haole crowd, predominantly). The candidates each had ample opportunity to show us who they are. Here's what I observed. MADIE GREENE is an experienced local government worker who seemed to lack energy or ideas and who spoke so quietly that most could not hear her. Might want a more dynamic person representing Puna. GREGGOR ILAGAN, our incumbent is a handsome well-spoken young man. He rambled amiably but was vague on specifics. For example, when the topic of geothermal came up he cited statistics about Hawaii's high energy costs compare to the mainland. And then he boldly announced he is concerned about PGV safety. That's nice Greggor but you told us nothing. Certainly he seems to be a nice, agreeable, inexperienced young man without much depth. ROY LOZANO is a fervent environmentalist but a one trick pony galloping a bit farther down a narrow path than many of us. Smart guy and a positive influence in the community I am sure. Must be since he dropped Harrry Kim's name about 10 times. EMILY NAEOLE did not disappoint. Never a shy person and never one to be influenced in the slightest by logic or facts, she was Emily 100%. It's cute, in a way, that she is so self-confident but she is basically an embarrassing clown. Sorry, Emily, but if you choose to run for public office then you are fair game. Bottom line for me: Greggor. As my old co-worker used to say, the cream of the crud. Don't miss the next forum.

[rainyjim]

Did Illagan say anything about GMO?