My notes from Fred Blas' Talk Story

[Rob Tucker]

October 17, Nanawale Long House. 11 am to 1 pm

I attended Fred Blas’ talk story at Nanawale from start to finish. The format worked better than I expected. Fred spoke for a lot longer than three to five minutes and covered a lot of ground. Fred spoke without notes. I sat in the front row and took my notes extemporaneously. So here they are.

Fred’s Background:

* raised in Guam and Southern California
* business management background. 11 years with Sears, Roebuck followed with his own Firestone dealership(s).
* Married to Betty for 35 years, with three boys and two girls. The children now include a Ph.D., a teacher, a private investigator, College CEO
* Been coming to the Big Island for 30+ years and decided to move here 12 years ago.


Why Run/ Fred’s Vision:

* We need a common sense approach for “our people” there is no “my people”. Everyone counts.
* I enjoy what I do. I am not a talker I am a doer.
* I want Puna to be a role model and to have a positive image for our residents and the world.

Fred Supports:

* Medical marijuana - a program which is needed but is not well run.

* Civil Unions: Fred supports marriage between a man and a woman and also supports civil unions.

* Our farmers. Strong support for our papaya farmers. Sugar is gone. We have to keep our local agriculture strong.

* Education: We need more programs for after school which can teach skills, respect and leadership. Sports are a way to do that. The new Puna Panthers Pop-Warner team is 3-1 with players showing good promise for college scholarships. Basketball, volleyball and surfing are areas of sports development that can help kids keep busy and learn. Sports is a way for the community and county to assist families in keeping kids engaged and in school.

* Jobs/ Small Business: We need the zoning to allow local business opportunities. We can’t be driving to Hilo for everything forever.

* Roads: We need an alternative route to and from Hilo. Gotta have it.

* Police: Find ways to support the police to reduce burglaries and distribution of drugs like cocaine and ice.

* Woodland Center: Working with the state and with Faye Hanohano to get a traffic light at the Woodland location. Fred had a collision there himself and understands the risks.

* Medical Facilities: we urgently need a dialysis center and a hospital. Kau, Waimea, Hilo and Kona all have hospitals. Puna needs a hospital. Fred will work with anyone and everyone to achieve this.

* Water: We need water. Fire hydrants to serve the subdivisions. Depending on volunteers fire trucks to haul water to fires is not sufficient.

* Speeders / Racers: Work with police to reduce speeding and dangerous driving. Fred had a meeting with 25+ young racers who want a place to race their cars. From this a group was formed to work toward that end with the young drivers signing a pledge to not drink and drive, race and speed and to not steal cars for parts.

* No East Side / West Side: Fred will work with council members for what is good for Puna and help them for what they need in their districts.

* Ethnic groups: Where Fred grew up everybody was equal. No my people talk. Black, brown, white - everybody’s blood is red. Everybody matters.

* Cutting Costs / Increasing Services: Fred will work with the courts for more community service and less jail time. Use the community service to do things like road clean up and free county workers to maintain and improve parks. His work with community service manpower has been as far away as Akaka Falls doing clean ups.

* Community Service: The bus shelters did not cost the county anything. Local businesses donated materials and residents volunteered.

* A park in HPP is a priority. HPP has nothing and needs attention.

* Pahoa Senior Center: Don’t spend too much time and money making tedious plans. Let the people do it. we have carpenters and electricians who will volunteer in an instant.

* District 5 office. I will not need a council office in Pahoa. I will drive to Hilo. I will work out of my car if I have to. If I can save the money I’d rather see the funding go to the Senior Center or something similar that helps people.

Fred Statements:

* Working together we will al be winners.

* I am not a talker, I am a doer. When I was in business and we got a complaint I called up the customer right away, not next week, and asked: How can we solve the problem?

* I want “our” district to be safe and the best quality of life for everyone.

* I only spent $2,600 on my campaign so far. I am frugal in spending money and always look for the way to get things done without waste. I can save the county money.

* I will work with the whole council and the administration. I want Puna to become a role model on getting things done.

Questions from those attending:

1. Scholastic Surfing Team? Fred: Sure.

2. Pohiki beach development? Fred: Sounds like a good idea but I need to know more. Don’t damage the break.

3. GMO? for or against? Fred: I am in the middle on this.

4. Veto. Would Fred support a veto over ride? Fred: Under the right circumstances - sure.

5. Are you going to have your own TV show? Fred: No.

6. Fuel Tax Revenue Proposal. Do you support? Fred: Yes I do.

7. Will there be another pubic opportunity to meet Fred? Fred: I am meeting with lots of people. My schedule is jammed with meeting people. I will be at the HPP General Meeting to speak (Emily is invited too) on October 31st at 3 pm. Tell your friends to come and tell your friends and neighbors to vote.

8. You are supporting Charter Amendment #1 for 1% Land Preservation Fund? Fred: Yes.

9. Are you willing to look into county procurement reform? Fred: Yes.

End of my notes.

If there are questions you wish had been asked and answered I guess you should have been there. There was opportunity.

Rob Tucker

[Kapohocat]

Thank you Rob!

I just talked to a friend whose group met with Fred also and her opinion that I also respect is Fred Blas, too. Maybe I wont need a coin to flip.

[JerryCarr]

Thanks to Rob for the detailed report! I had already decided to vote for Fred, but had a few reservations. Now I have even fewer. It is clear to me that our best hope for good representation and progress in Puna lies with Fred Blas.

Fred and Emily are both appearing at the HPP General Membership meeting on October 31, just two days before the election. Both the interaction of the candidates and their responses to a predominately HPP crowd should be interesting. Emily embarrassed herself at one previous HPP meeting by giving an insulting "you people gotta go through me" speech and embarrassed her cousin Billy Kenoi (who was present and looked dismayed) at another by saying "my cousin Billy and me got the power in Puna." Can anyone say "arrogant?" Fred's demeanor could make as much of a difference with some undecided HPP voters as his policy points. It should be interesting.

[robguz]

I'm not thrilled with either candidate and was ready to vote for Emily based on what I've heard about Fred in the past. The more I think about it, the more I just don't think I can bring myself to vote for her. All the phony religious craziness, the irresponsibility over vaccines (something the majority of the council is guilty of), and many more things is making me think seriously about voting for Blas. It's still possible I won't vote at all in this race, but it's safe to say now I won't vote for Emily. Rob, I've appreciated yours and others' comments about Blas.

[critterlover]

Aloha Rob,

Thank you for taking the time to take notes and highlights. Thanks too for the opportunity this provides in assistimg those who read your blog as part of their decision process. I think the 'issues' that are continually discussed on the Puna blogs were asked and answered. I am surprised no one asked what kind of support for the PCDP would be forthcoming in getting amendments proposed.

I am confident your itemized list here will do well for most folk. I know/heard from another person -- who attended -- your notes covered things accurately.




www.write-matters.com

[silverpenny10]

Robguz,

Of all the Emily shenanigans, one of the few things I agree with her is her stance on making vaccinations optional. Our children don't need to be pumped full of drugs. This is a decision made by parents, not enforced by government. We already have enough problems with manipulated, processed foods.

http://web.mac.com/len15/MedicalVeritas/..._2010.html Ending Vaccination Humanicide
http://vactruth.com/ Do Drug Firm Bribery Charges Implicate the U.S. FDA?

[Rob Tucker]

Silverpenny, Just for a point of fact vaccinations have always been optional and there has never been a program of forced vaccinations real or proposed. I would prefer that you make another topic if it is something you want to discuss.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by silverpenny10....
Of all the Emily shenanigans, one of the few things I agree with her is her stance on making vaccinations optional...

---

Just curiosity, but isn't this kind of item voted on at a state level, not in the county council purview, just like Fred Blas' opinion on civil unions is a state level item?

And Rob is correct, parents may opt out of all vaccinations based on (religious) beliefs. They may not opt out of TB testing (although can either by skin test or chest xray). Note: knowledge gained working at Malamalama years ago.

[Shekelpal]

I may be remembering this wrong, but did not Fred Blas, a few years ago, advocate the cutting of the native hala forest in Hawaiian Beaches/Shores, in his beautification efforts, to get rid of coqui? If so, this is very flawed thinking. The coqui are all over Hilo and everywhere else. The cutting is detriment to the very last parcels of native Hawaiian coastal forests that are left on these islands, not to coqui.

And was not Fred Blas a promoter of the Woodland Center's (now no woodlands as there are no ohia trees left) fast food restaurants?

Just questions. Looking for answers. And would like some, if possible.

Thanks.

[Kapohocat]

If Fred is elected, his responsibility would be to follow the will of the people. So IMHO even if he as a private citizen wanted woodland center, when a council person would have to vote for the people rather than his opinion.

Yes those are rose colored glasses I am wearing!