Council special One former state senator, one former state representative, a former City Council member and a former state judge.
election is full
5th District voters face a variety
of faces and platform issuesBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comTwo college professors, two who work at the elementary school level and two attorneys.
A stuntman, a tree trimmer/artist and the public information officer who answers to the nickname of "Capt. Disaster."
No it's not the set-up lines for a joke but you could say there's someone of nearly every stripe in the field of 14 candidates for the Honolulu City Council 5th District special election which will be determined by the voters of the region Saturday in a winner-take-all contest. The election is being held to fill out the remainder of the term of former councilman Andy Mirikitani, who is in federal prison for accepting kickbacks in return for bonuses he gave to two employees.
The job pays $43,350 until Jan. 2, 2003. The winner, however, will likely have the advantage of being the favorite to win a fresh four-year term to the seat come September.
The Manoa Neighborhood Board is sponsoring a community forum featuring the 14 candidates from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Noelani Elementary School cafetorium, 2655 Woodland Drive.
The neighborhoods in the 5th District and the issues facing them are nearly as diverse as the candidates. In the more established and exclusive Manoa Valley, many folks are worried about Hawaiian Electric Company's proposal to put electrical lines along Waahila Ridge. Some apartment dwellers in the ever-transient Makiki neighborhood are upset at the possibility that a new 54-unit complex will go up at the site of the Fernhurst YWCA. Some in the McCully-Moiliili region, the land of the two-story walkup, are wondering what the city's new transit project will bring while a segment of Ala Moana-Kapiolani denizens continue to battle the omnipresent strip and hostess bars.
The Star-Bulletin queried each of the candidates last week on some of the more pressing issues in the coming 11 months.
An environmental impact statement on Mayor Jeremy Harris' ambitious, $1 billion Bus Rapid Transit plan is expected to be completed soon. There is concern on the part of some residents that a plan to give exclusive use of lanes for BRT vehicles in some areas will wreak more havoc for the region's motorists.
Meanwhile, the Harris administration has proposed that the Council condemn several properties in the area where Kalakaua Avenue meets Kapiolani Boulevard in order to create a more attractive gateway to the Hawaii Convention Center and Waikiki. Among the tenants that would be forced out is the long-standing Club Rock-Za strip bar.
On an islandwide basis, the Council appears poised to finally enact legislation barring smoking in restaurants -- at least indoor ones. But the vote could be close -- several previous attempts have fallen by the wayside by the narrowest of margins.
At a recent forum, several of the candidates said that frustration over Mirikitani's conviction and the antics of other Council members, coupled with the economic downturn following Sept. 11, spurred them to seek public office.
Many promised to pay more attention to their elected officials and relished the notion of finally getting a new Council voice.
Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Absentee votes can be cast at the Honolulu Hale courtyard from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday.
Name: Sam Aiona [CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES]
Age: 36
Neighborhood: Kapiolani
Occupation: Loan officer, former state representative
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No.
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No.
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes.
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Stop Punahou Vista and the 138 KV power lines."
Name: John Anderson
Age: 55
Neighborhood: Moiliili
Occupation: Elementary school counselor
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "I do not support the Bus Rapid Transit project as now proposed."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: "I support small business as long as it is legal and Club Rock-Za is. It may not be the type of business I would frequent, but I have difficulty with the city condemning a business because it does not like the type of business being performed."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "I support the restaurant smoking bill. The workers and customers deserve a smoke-free environment to work in and enjoy meals."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Though I think Outrigger's plans are wonderful, I would vote against condemnation of leasehold property held by Outrigger in Waikiki."
Name: Danny Auyoung
Age: 53
Neighborhood: Makiki
Occupation: Businessman
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "I'm not sure we want to take away more lanes and cause more traffic problems. I am in favor of some type of mass transit..."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: Yes. "I would favor condemning the properties, so long as the city does not sell the properties to other private interests."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "However, I would be against legislation banning smoking in bars or other establishments that sell more liquor than food."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "I would lobby the state Legislature to provide campaign subsidies for future City Council candidates. Then you might have more fresh and honest candidates with different views willing to run for office rather than seasoned politicians beholden to special interests."
Name: Albert Furuto
Age: 48
Neighborhood: McCully
Occupation: Professional stuntman, actor
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: Yes. "Because that's the only plan on the table right now. But there should be a clause that would result in immediate action to remedy any problems if it's not functional."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: Yes.
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes.
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Lowering taxes while finding ways to improve services with innovative ideas that are not burdensome to taxpayers or businesses."
Name: Nasir Gazdar
Age: 57
Neighborhood: Moiliili
Occupation: University geography and environmental professor
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: Yes. "I support it but I would like to incorporate some of the traffic flow modifications put forth by University of Hawaii professors to meet future needs, and Kapiolani residents who do not want the bus lanes exclusively for TheBus."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No. "I think this issue should be solved by arbitration between the landowners first before the city tries to condemn property from one party to benefit another party."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "I am for the complete ban on smoking in restaurants indoors."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "I would pursue balancing the budget and not increasing property taxes; and give tax breaks to the elderly, those with disabilities and those affected by the Sept. 11 attacks."
Name: Richard Gee
Age: 50
Neighborhood: Manoa
Occupation: Tree trimmer, artist
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "I think we should build a monorail and not continue to do the buses."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: Yes. "That area has always been an eyesore. I've always thought that since they put the Convention Center there, they should develop the area around there."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "I don't support smoking in any public place."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Better public transportation initiatives. I think I'd just like to go for more public transportation because I think traffic is the most important problem. We see it every day and it's not getting better."
Name: Kekoa Kaapu
Age: 64
Neighborhood: University
Occupation: Public interest advocate, former Councilman
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: "Basically yes, we should review the impact on neighborhoods, parking and traffic flow."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: "Yes, for the most part."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes.
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Leasehold reform for condos and businesses with a change in the way all land is valued for tax purposes."
Name: Joe Kinoshita
Age: 66
Neighborhood: Makiki
Occupation: Attorney
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "I support a rapid transit system, but not as proposed."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No. "I would support it giving present owners preference as to business start up."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "I support a ban on smoking. But I would allow a separate area for smoking."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "To revitalize the Kakaako and Kapiolani areas encouraging and assisting diversity of businesses and industries providing for job opportunities."
Name: Ann Kobayashi
Age: 64
Neighborhood: Manoa
Occupation: Executive assistant to Gov. Cayetano, former state senator
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No.
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No.
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "And I will seek an amendment for a total ban of restaurant smoking."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "A circuit breaker property tax system."
Name: Richard Lee
Age: 54
Neighborhood: Kapiolani
Occupation: Attorney, businessman, former judge
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: Yes. "I would support any reasonable proposal to alleviate traffic and provide faster transport."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: Yes. "I support the plan to build a Waikiki gateway plaza provided it will generate similar revenues for the city and that all displaced businesses should be treated fairly..."
Support proposed smoking ban?: No. "I oppose such a bill since it interferes with the rights of a business owner to choose and to cater to its particular clientele."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "My 14-point platform for economic growth and prosperity will put over $5 billion into the economy." It calls for, among other things, promoting the Chinese tourism market.
Name: Ron Lockwood
Age: 53
Neighborhood: University
Occupation: Special education instructor
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "I do not support it as it is now proposed. I think there are much better alternatives."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No. "I think a fair offer needs to be made to these people before condemnation takes place. There's not much difference between Club Rock-Za and what the city is trying to do with the Outrigger."
Support proposed smoking ban?: No. "My mother has buried two husbands who died from smoking but I'm not going to be the one to tell her she can't smoke in restaurants."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Balance the city budget without breaking the taxpayers' backs. We need to take a look at all CIP (capital improvement project) projects coming up and see if we need them."
Name: Harris Murabayashi
Age: 73
Neighborhood: Makiki
Occupation: retired government analyst
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "It would use city streets and the streets are congested as it is."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No. "I don't agree with that unless they agree to sell. Those businesses and property owners were there before they built the Convention Center."
Support proposed smoking ban?: No. "It should be up to the owner to decide if he wants to ban smoking. Guess what? Only people who want to smoke will go there."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Reduce the role of government. Government should be restricted only to those things the private sector cannot or will not do. For instance, the city shouldn't build housing."
Name: Richard Soo
Age: 50
Neighborhood: Kalawahine Streamside (Punchbowl)
Occupation: Fire Department captain, public information officer
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: Yes. "I support the basic concept of a Bus Rapid Transit project but would first work for improvements and refinements to the present bus system prior to embarking on this $1 billion project."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: "I support improvements in this area of Waikiki-Kapiolani with reservations."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes.
Most important legislative pursuit?: "I plan to introduce legislation that will return to the City Council greater oversight and fiscal responsibility regarding the city's capital improvement projects, i.e. the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve improvement project."
Name: John Steelquist
Age: 62
Neighborhood: Tantalus
Occupation: Business professor
Support mayor's BRT proposal?: No. "The proposed Bus Rapid Transit system is seriously flawed in that it is incomplete."
Support condemnation for Waikiki gateway plaza?: No. "I am reluctant to use condemnation for other than obviously public purposes such as schools and parks."
Support proposed smoking ban?: Yes. "The bill is satisfactory, but should be amended to be fair for both indoor and outdoor enclosed areas. There should also be provisions to allow a restaurant to apply for an exemption."
Most important legislative pursuit?: "Ten and a half months is too short to accomplish long-term change so I am planning to seek another term this fall. The legislation I will pursue during the year or five years in office is a community-based development plan for the Primary Urban Center."
City & County of Honolulu
