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Big Isle Mayor HILO -- In a brief speech at his inauguration yesterday, new Big Island mayor Harry Kim repeated the commitment of his administration to integrity and trust but said nothing about specific initiatives.
Kim repeats vow
of integrity, trust
No specific initiatives
Holschuh may take seat in Senate
are revealed in his
inauguration speechBy Rod Thompson
Big Island correspondent"I will work every single day to show you your vote has not been wasted," Kim told the audience at Hilo's Civic Auditorium.
Political science professor Jim Wang reacted, "What is his vision?
"I thought today he would say something. (Instead,) absolutely nothing."
Kim answered later that he doesn't have a "magic plan."
"We'll work with all ongoing associations for economic development that the community supports," he said.
The most controversial of Kim's cabinet choices is former Board of Land and Natural Resources member and occasional development critic Chris Yuen as planning director.
Wang said some developers may try to prevent Yuen's confirmation by the County Council.
Attorney Ben Tsukazaki, who has represented major developers, commented, "I'm not as concerned as some people. I think (Yuen) has a sense of responsibility."
Former Mayor Dante Carpenter said the Big Island is more conservative, less open to development, than elsewhere.
"There's a greater conservative mood here, and Harry himself is a very conservative guy," he said.
"I'm not sure that's conducive to economic development."
Some of Kim's conservatism regarding development is justified, Carpenter said, such as his criticism of shoreline development subject to storm damage. "He was right to a large degree."
Yuen said his actions will be based on the carpentry motto, "Measure twice. Cut once." "We're going to measure twice and make sure what we approve is right."
Kim said the top-down approach to development has created community opposition in the past.
He said a new prison is needed on the island, "But what type and where?"
He criticized government officials for inviting Oji Paper Co. of Japan to do a forestry project here, then letting the Land Board kill the project in the face of public opposition. "You just don't do that to people," he said.
Ironically, the board member who made the motion which killed the project is his new planning director, Yuen.
HILO -- Former Big Island mayoral candidate Dr. Fred Holschuh is on Gov. Ben Cayetano's short list as a possible replacement for state Sen. Andy Levin, Holschuh confirmed. Holschuh may
take seat in SenateBy Rod Thompson
Big Island correspondentLevin resigned from the Senate last week to take a post in Mayor Harry Kim's new administration.
Democrat Holschuh was defeated in the mayoral race against Republican Kim this year. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Senate two years ago.
Holschuh said he understands the only other name under consideration for Levin's former Senate seat is Russell Kokubun, currently serving on the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Kokubun couldn't be reached for comment. Cayetano's press secretary Kim Murakawa declined to comment.