WAILUKU >> An environmentalist who received more than 13 percent of the vote in the Maui mayoral primary has endorsed the man challenging Mayor James "Kimo" Apana in the general election. Former rival backs
mayor's challengerMaui environmentalist Robert
Parsons puts his support behind
Councilman ArakawaBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comRobert W. Parsons said he felt there was a need for better planning in the county and that Councilman Alan Arakawa has the vision to guide Maui for the next four years.
Parsons, a board member of the group Maui Tomorrow, also criticized the Apana administration for a "long list of transgressions" in planning decisions.
Apana has said his environmental record is better than Arakawa's.
"Mr. Parsons is entitled to his opinion, but our campaign is with the voters of Maui County, and we are confident they will support us on Nov. 5th," said Yuku Lei Sugimura, Apana's campaign co-chairwoman.
Parsons said although Apana says he is willing to make changes, his track record in the last four years shows a long list of transgressions, including a decision by the planning director to grant a shoreline exemption to landowners in the area known as the Old Lime Kiln in Paia.
Apana officials said the mayor has since proposed buying the Paia land and turning it into a park.
Parsons, a Kihei resident, criticized the absence of a study about the cumulative impact of five major developments along Piilani Highway in south Maui.
Parsons said he felt the majority of the people who voted for him would vote for Arakawa. "I think in general that the people who voted for either Alan or myself were voting for change," Parsons said.
Apana led in the primary with 44.3 percent of the votes, followed by Arakawa with 36.4 percent, Parsons with 13.7 percent and William Riddick with 1.1 percent. The remainder were blank votes.
Apana ran as a Democrat and won the last mayoral election in 1998 against the Republican Arakawa, 22,350 to 20,301.
Under a County Charter amendment, mayoral elections are now nonpartisan.
