Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
Malama O Puna will be hosting Candidate Forums in July. All forums will begin promptly at 5:30 pm at the Pahoa community center. All candidates running will be invited to participate. The dates are as follows:
Council District 4 & 5 Thursday, July 14
State Senate & House Monday, July 18
Mayor Thursday, July 21
Prosecuting Attorney Monday, July 25*
* Right now there is only one candidate for this race. If no one else files, then the race will be uncontested and this forum will be cancelled.
For more information email malamaopuna@yahoo.com
Mahalo,
Rene Siracusa
Posts: 216
Threads: 47
Joined: May 2012
My wife and I attended only one forum last year. It was entertaining and enlightening. First, mahalo, Rene, for making this happen. We left one before the GMO zealots began yelling and interrupting. You had a good idea after that. "Write your questions down and hand them to me and I'll read them to the candidates." An acquaintance boasted how she ended the forum with her interruptions and loud mouth. She was actually nonplussed when I told her how I felt, that yelling support for a non-GMO candidate was foolish. "He is a one-trick pony who will be ineffective in working with other legislators...and further Puna's reputation as a collection of political clowns." I love watching inadvertent comedians though I don't really want them in office (...and now we have Trump who would fit right in here).
I really hope we get the likes of RJ and Daniel "Sockman" Cunningham on stage. Let freedom ring.
Posts: 1,858
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Joined: Apr 2015
quote:
Originally posted by Peter Easterling
I really hope we get the likes of RJ and Daniel "Sockman" Cunningham on stage. Let freedom ring.
Yep, maybe RJ can get herself arrested again!
Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
Malama O Puna makes a practice of inviting ALL the candidates to its forums - not just the ones with high name recognition. We believe that it is important that the public (and even the other candidates) hear alternative views and solutions. RJ is not running for office, so will not be on the podium, though she may be in the audience. Mr. Cunningham is running for mayor and has been invited to participate.
Because there are 13 candidates for mayor, if all of them show up we will be really cramped for time. Therefore instead of allowing each of them 3 minutes for introductory remarks (= 39+ minutes, I have asked them to write one page about why they are running and their top two priorities. These will be posted prior to the forum, so those who arrive early will have a chance to read them and discuss them with the candidates. I intend for the forums - and especially the mayoral forum - to start PROMPTLY at 5:30, and am asking the public to kokua so that we avoid disruptions and accomplish as much as possible.
If any of you have questions, please email me directly at malamaopuna@yahoo.com.
mahalo,
Rene
Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
UPDATE:
AT this point I have firm RSVPs from the following candidates:
Council District 4: Michael Bernard, Madie Greene, Eileen O'Hara.
Council District 5: Dan Paleka, Jennifer Ruggles.
Prosecuting Attorney:Mitch Roth, Mike Kagami.
State Senate 2: Fred Fogel, Greggor Ilagan, Russell Ruderman.
State House 4: Luana Jones, Joy San Buenaventura. (Aaron Moke
Stephens says he has a prior commitment and will
not attend.)
The mayoral candidate RSVPs are still trickling in, so I will wait until next week before posting that forum's participants.
Posts: 1,219
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Aloha Rene,
How are the questions chosen, will there be an opportunity for the audience to submit or ask questions?
Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
Update on Mayoral Forum:
Of the 13 candidates, 9 have agreed to attend.
Wally Lau says he has a previous commitment.
No response from Alvin Akina, Gene Tamashiro or Tim Waugh.
Malama O Puna begins the questions to the candidates. Our board selects questions on environmental topics. Then we open it up to the floor. The public submits their written questions and they are read in order received, BUT multiple questions on the same topic may be combined to save time.
Except for the mayoral forum, all candidates can make an opening and a closing statement. Because the mayoral race is so crowded, we have asked the candidates to write one page about why they are running and their top 2 issues, and these will be posted on the wall for public scrutiny. This will save about 40 minutes which can be used for more questions.
Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
Sen. Ruderman has been kind enough to lend us a PA system for all four forums so that everyone can hear the questions and answers. Still, if you are hard of hearing, it is recommended that you arrive early and take a seat near the front.
mahalo,
Rene
Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
Update:
The forum for Prosecuting Attorney is still on for July 25th at the Pahoa community center. The event starts at 5 pm, with opening statements from the candidates beginning at 5:30.
Because there are only two candidate, Mitch Roth and Mike Kagami, we can allow a little more time for all parts of the program. This includes the introductory remarks, time to respond to questions, closing remarks, and questions from the audience.
The two candidates differ widely in personal style, philosophy, and how they see the role of the Office and of its Director. These differences will affect everyone, directly or indirectly. So it is important to turn out and ask and listen, especially because there is very little coverage by the media.
If you have questions, pls email me at malamaopuna@yahoo.com.
mahalo,
Rene
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