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Yes, I've gone to his website(s), and read his platform, such as it is. His credentials are certainly community oriented; however,his experience seems to be mostly with a certain segment of the greater community. While I appreciate his position(s) in the Kenoi administration as deputy managing director and managing director, was he somehow insulated from Kenoi's alleged transgressions? I'm not sure if that's a plus or a minus: he's mum on that glaring issue. He has a mainland education I see. How does that impact a community that largely receives its revenue from there? Does the fact that he worked for Kamehameha Schools influence his decisions?
Let's take this apart:
"He is prepared to address issues of public safety (How) and disaster preparedness (by), homelessness (okay, good luck), affordable housing (where and with what), the need to improve our business climate (explain), ensure efficiency of the county permitting process,(How) improving maintenance of county facilities and properties,(Union jobs? County Jobs?) improving solid waste operations (bonds?), exploring renewable energy projects that would provide lower rates for consumers without environmental trade-offs(how does one do that exactly), and diversified agriculture, all while preserving and protecting our environment.(like what for instance)"
I'm not trying to be a smart a$$, I just want to hear his ideas with a bit more depth. Does anyone know more about his positions?
Un Mojado Sin Licencia
Un Mojado Sin Licencia
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As deputy managing director and managing director, shouldn't he already have been working on these items that he states for his campaign? What the heck has he been doing all this time?
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Humm...That's a good point. I'm hoping that HiloPuna, a coherent and politically astute person, might weigh in on this. As innocuous as Mr. Lau's platform appears to be, the other candidates have even less to say. Where's the beef?
Un Mojado Sin Licencia
Un Mojado Sin Licencia
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Re:Kenoi's transgressions (specifically, the P-card issue), my understanding is that Mayor's P-card usage was not in Lau's portfolio, but rather in the portfolio of Randy Kurohara, who was at the time the deputy managing director (and currently the managing director). However, since Kurohara and Finance Direcor Nancy Crawford both reported to Kenoi, it would appear that they had limited authority to rein in the boss. Fortunately the press was able to bring pressure on the administration, but one unanswered question is who was the source of the press's information? A limited number of people would have had access to the Mayor's p-card bills - Crawford and Kurohara among them. But I digress...
A friend of mine who worked closely with Lau in the County government speaks highly of him and his integrity - and the fact that he resigned his administration position before announcing his mayoral bid speaks well to his character IMO.
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I read Wally Lau's resume on his campaign website, and one thing stood out. That was his complete lack of experience in any job setting other than government and tax-exempt non-profits. I'm not saying that it compromises his integrity or administrative skills, but it does pop the phrase "career bureaucrat" into my cynical mind. I'm waiting to hear more policy points from all the candidates before making up my mind, though. He might be the best on offer . . . or not.
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Thanks JohnDW, and Ophikao earlier, for the kind words.
I know Wally as well as I know Harry and Marlene, and better than Pete, Wendell, Crowley and the rest of the crew running for Mayor. I appreciate the mere fact that Wally even has a website/platform! Compare that to the others, and this is for the top job in the County! I still don't want to have to go to Facebook as the primary source for information.
If Chunkster has an issue with c.v.'s he needs to look at the other candidates as well. Harry worked for his Mom delivering kimchee, but he never managed the business. His driving a van is not immersing oneself in the economy as an entrepreneur. Harry worked County (and State). Pete's an Army lifer, a Federal employee. Again an alternative approach to making a living in our culture. Marlene was a lifetime educator, State and County. Wally has done non-profits, KS educator, and County (but as an administrative appointment at the executive level). No Shark Pit's in the bunch! Lots of community service though, coaching, volunteering, serving on Boards and Commissions. So mahalo to all of them for that.
In comparing c.v.'s though Wally comes the closest, for me, of having relied on his wits and capacities to maintain and advance his employment. He didn't have the "iron lunch bucket" that Federal, State, and County jobs offer. Should that be a deciding factor in the Mayoral race? I don't think it does for me. But in comparing c.v.'s he's at least equal to, if not more credible than, the others.
I don't see Pete or Marlene, the two next most credible candidates out of "the pack", getting anywhere near the traction required to finish in the top two. CAVEAT...as things stand. The obivious concern for all the other candidates is Harry getting 50% + 1 vote and closing the race out early. Their involvement is likely to take some of his votes so in that respect they may be viewed as spoilers. Kinda like what Kokubun did to Inouye to let Yamashiro gain a pluraity and win the race back when it was a Democratic primary. However that was likely on purpose.....
But to me it certainly looks like it will be Harry and Wally in the General if Harry doesn't end it early. Remember, long before the P-card, when Billy was at the top of his game after successfully guiding the County through the recession, Harry almost beat him. The man is a vote attracting machine, albeit with his non-machine painted signs and his "applicant for Mayor" soft sell approach. Or because of it ?
The easiest way for Harry to win would be a two man race with anybody. He's most likely to get more votes than any of the others and in a two horse race at the Primary he'd be a shoo in. I'm glad that's not likely to happen since I think Harrys bereft of ideas, relying too much on homily's and populism, and frankly just too old to do the job. I think Pete is misguided in how to manage our County, and I think Marlene would have a HUGE learning curve. Leaving me with what I consider to be the most important difference in deciding how to select a candidate from the pack. Look at their campaign. If they can't motivate others to work on their behalf, it they can't raise money to promote themselves to the public at large, if they can't get their message out in the6 months prior to the election, then what makes one think they will be able to take the reins of the County, develop a budget, work with the Council, and advance the public interest. Wally is getting this done. And it is NOT the "Kenoi machine", or the "Hilo old-boys cartel". His campaign is Kona based, Kona managed, and younger.
The electoral theme this year is, obviously, TRUST. The newspaper here has served up all the sordidness they could wring out of the P-card story, and it's definitely had an effect on the populace. So no big ideas, no big voices, no big bodies, no Mr. Big need apply for the job. Kawika Crowley, bad year to throw your hat in the ring! With this theme the top two are well suited to meet the publics desire. Wally is very low key, even lower than Harry. While Wally does have some intensity of purpose it's oriented towards public service. My observation of Harry's sense of public service was he was more laissere-faire. Which is to say he didn't show me a high work ethic in his 8 years as Mayor. As a public example of this everytime I saw him address a business group he spoke off the top of his head, was unprepared on the subject matter, and frequently resorted to coarse language to make his point. Always with an apology, but nevertheless inappropriate. Full disclosure, I've always had a problem with how he handled "the emergency" when he was CD chief. My beef was his steadfast refusal to build his department, in particular not naming a Deputy, and thereby generating enormous overtime. It just wasn't the 24/7/365 emergency he made it into, and took advantage of. It was controversial at the time, but now seemingly forgotten. It shouldn't be.
So between the two I certainly consider Wally Lau the superiour candidate and would make a far better Mayor. His years watching Billy get things done has provided a solid template of what the Executive of a small County should be doing. Keeping a close eye on the operating expenses and trying to invest every dollar you can in improving the quality of our infrastructure. Harry however never met a tax dollar that he didn't think belonged to a County employee. All of the pilikia building roads in Kona during Harry's tenure are on his head, he didn't lead the community forward to get things done. Billy made sure they happened and was tireless in his efforts. Again, great model for Wally, who was also his lead man in Kona.
However, all that said, I think that at this time Harry is the prohibitive favorite.
Hilopuna mahalo, what a wonderful summarization about this years mayor's race. I agree with you about "TRUST" being this years theme and think Harry Kim would be the favorite.
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I took HiloPuna's advice and did compare the main candidates' resumes. Wally Lau does come closer than the others to some sort of business experience via his private non-profit background. Having worked with one of those myself, I know there is more accountability in many of them than in government (especially unionized) organizations.
Harry Kim is a non-starter for me because I have spoken with him one on one on a number of occasions over the years, and he has become progressively less on top of things. Frankly, he seemed confused and "out of it" the last two times I talked to him. And besides, he didn't do that great when he was in office, having gone on a hiring and spending spree that Kenoi, for all his faults, had to deal with in Kim's wake.
If I had to choose between Kim and Lau at this point, I would go with Lau. It will be interesting to see if Hoffman gets anywhere, but I have my doubts.
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Harry Kim is a non-starter for me too for reasons cited in this letter to the editor I wrote four years ago:
http://www.hawaii247.com/2012/06/06/sten...ppointing/
Harry Kim’s last minute entrance into the 2012 Hawaii County Mayor race was very disappointing. I wasn’t impressed by his eight year tenure as mayor from 2000 until 2008.
He dramatically increased the size of county government during this time. The county budget doubled over eight years. In addition, 442 additional employees were added.
Kim’s administration also tried execute poorly vetted proposals and directives.
The Department of Public Works’s public information officer attempted to enforce a directive, which would’ve blackballed me and two other people from directly communicating with public works employees.
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quote:
Originally posted by Chunkster
I took HiloPuna's advice and did compare the main candidates' resumes. Wally Lau does come closer than the others to some sort of business experience via his private non-profit background. Having worked with one of those myself, I know there is more accountability in many of them than in government (especially unionized) organizations.
Harry Kim is a non-starter for me because I have spoken with him one on one on a number of occasions over the years, and he has become progressively less on top of things. Frankly, he seemed confused and "out of it" the last two times I talked to him. And besides, he didn't do that great when he was in office, having gone on a hiring and spending spree that Kenoi, for all his faults, had to deal with in Kim's wake.
If I had to choose between Kim and Lau at this point, I would go with Lau. It will be interesting to see if Hoffman gets anywhere, but I have my doubts.
Completely agree with this post. Mahalo, Chunkster. Additionally, I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Lau at the King Kamehameha Day Celebration in Kohala/Hawi. "Don't know him from Adam", however, in our short conversation, there was some substance there. FWIW. Agree if it's between, Mr. Kim, and Mr. Lau, the latter would be my choice, too.
JMO.
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