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Kobayashi takes At age 64 with more than 20 years of public service, Ann Kobayashi is ready to take on her new role as city councilwoman, filling the position vacated by Andy Mirikitani.
District 5 with an
ear to working class
She says she wants to develop
business while also protecting
the neighborhoodsBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com"We needed to have someone who could hit the ground running," said the former state senator.
Kobayashi will complete the 11 months remaining in Mirikitani's term and will run for the same seat in next fall's election. Mirikitani resigned in December after being convicted of extortion and sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
Kobayashi, the sole female candidate, snatched 40.1 percent of the votes, 4,967, in the winner-take-all election to represent Council District 5: Manoa, Makiki, Moiliili and McCully. She received the most endorsements from unions and special-interest groups, and beat out 13 opponents, many of whom were political neophytes.
She defeated her closest opponent, former state representative Sam Aiona, by twice as many votes.
Kobayashi said she looks forward to doing positive things for Honolulu with her fellow Council members, many of whom she knows.
Careful not to bash her beleaguered colleagues, she said: "I'm going to set high standards for what happens there. I'm sure other Council members want to have high standards, and we can work together on projects."
In 1994, Kobayashi left the state Legislature where she had held office since 1980, and ran for Honolulu mayor because she said she wanted to work for the community in a different way.
Despite losing that race, she worked for three years for the city as executive assistant to Mayor Jeremy Harris, and dealt with child-care and park-maintenance projects.
"What it comes down to is protecting the working people, making sure families are cared for," Kobayashi said.
She wants the city to set a cap on property taxes for people on fixed incomes, such as retirees and the disabled.
"It protects persons on fixed incomes for their lifetime," she said. When the property owner dies, and the heirs choose to sell the home, the difference would be paid to the city, she proposed.
Although her predecessor fought to eliminate strip bars in the Kapiolani-Keeaumoku area, Kobayashi would like to protect residential areas while finding a balance with the commercial segment of the area.
"As long as they are legitimate, legal businesses, we have to work with them," said Kobayashi, who helps run a family business.
"We need to protect neighborhoods, we need to protect the environment, but we need to protect economic development. But without the businesses, how are we going to find jobs, how are we going to exist?"
Kobayashi has already met with the University of Hawaii's urban planning department for assistance in creating a master plan for the area.
She would like to see structures such as Makiki Christian Church and other significant and historical sites identified and preserved. She would like to "enhance the good parts, rather than spot zoning, saying this is good, this is bad."
Kobayashi hopes the university will do the planning, to save the city money.
Being fair to businesses, she said, is also why she supports a total ban on smoking in restaurants, rather than allowing smoking in outdoor areas.
"What about small businesses who can't afford outdoor areas?" she said. "If it's going to be fair, then a total ban should be called."
Kobayashi also said she has been opposed to Hawaiian Electric Co.'s proposed power lines over Waahila Ridge from the beginning.
She maintains she received about $200 from HECO and that all the other contributions, which opponent Aiona contended were from HECO employees, were from longtime friends.
Some were friends who contributed to her past campaigns before even working for HECO; others do not work for the company, she said.
"I never use campaign contributions for elections, and I've never used campaign contributions for decision-making," Kobayashi said. "I never mix the two."
It is community service, in or out of office, that she said motivates her to serve in public office.
"I'm not in politics for any gain. I'm in it to advocate for women, children and senior citizens," said the divorced mother of three. "I just like to get things done ... and I try to look at the best way to help people."