Kauai

Commercial boating in the Hanalei
and same-sex marriage may be
key to state rep race

By Trish Moore
Star-Bulletin

LIHUE -- In an election season that Kauai political observers have criticized because of a lack of debate of the issues, one tightly contested race stands out.

State Rep. Mina Morita, a staunch environmentalist and opponent of commercial boating in the Hanalei River, faces a challenge from Republican Jay Furfaro, general manager of the Outrigger Beach Hotel.

In the last election Morita ousted Republican Billy Swain from the 12th House District (Haiku, Maui-Kapaa, Kauai) by fewer than 100 votes. She says the outcome of this campaign may hinge on voters' reaction to her stand on the controversial issues of Hanalei boating and the same-sex marriage amendment.

Morita says she's opposed to the amendment because she doesn't believe the Legislature should have the power to override Supreme Court decisions.

Furfaro backed Mayor Maryanne Kusaka's efforts to accommodate commercial boating in the Hanalei River and supports the measure giving the Legislature the power to ban same-sex marriage.

Furfaro, who has managed hotels on Kauai for 29 years, has made supporting the visitor industry a primary theme of his campaign. He says he would seek balance between economic and business interests.

The mayoral race: Council Chairwoman Mary Thronas is hoping her alliance with Councilman Kaipo Asing will help her unseat incumbent Kusaka. If her bid is successful, Thronas says she'll appoint Asing -- who finished close behind her in the primary -- to her top Cabinet position.

Although the race is nonpartisan, Kusaka is supported by the Republican Party and Thronas stresses her long experience and connections within the Democratic Party.

Both contestants say pumping up the economy is the major issue on the island.

Kusaka is running on her record, saying she's done a good job guiding Kauai's recovery from Hurricane Iniki, and has tried to anticipate future budget shortfalls by reducing the number of county employees.

She's also positioning herself as a new brand of politician, saying she has dispensed with the cronyism of party politics.

The Thronas campaign has recently begun an aggressive advertising campaign attacking Kusaka's integrity and credibility and handling of the budget.

Thronas says her partnership with Asing will represent both business and environmental issues.

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Charter amendments

Voters will consider questions
regarding the Water Board
and county spending

By Trish Moore
Kauai correspondent

LIHUE -- Kauai voters will decide whether to increase public-sector representation on the Kauai Water Board, and if the monetary threshold for formal bidding procedures should be raised to state standards.

The first County Charter amendment asks voters to increase Board of Water supply members from seven to nine, with the mayor appointing six members instead of four.

In the 1996 election, voters added the county planning director to the board without increasing its size.

The water board's rationale behind the amendment is to increase public representation on the board, but the proposal is opposed by environmentalists who fear the board would become overly represented by development interests.

The second proposal seeks to increase the maximum amount county government can spend for goods and services without going through the formal bidding process from $4,000 to the state threshold of $25,000.

The proposal includes a provision allowing the Council to set lower bidding requirements than the $25,000 limit.

Water department officials say increasing the bidding threshold could save about 400 hours of staff time and $12,500 in administrative expenses per year.

Water Board Manager Ernest Lau said the formal bidding process costs the department $3,000 for each purchase.