Big Island mayor
to seek 2nd termHarry Kim says he has yet
to tackle property tax reform
and Kona road improvements
HILO >> Saying he has work that remains to be done, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim announced yesterday he will seek a second term as mayor.
"I'm asking the voters to give me more time," Kim said.
Among uncompleted projects are property tax reform, protection of agricultural lands and road improvements in Kona, he said.
In 2001, Kim persuaded the County Council to raise minimum property taxes to $100 from $25, and in 2002 he persuaded it to raise property tax rates 25 percent. This year, the council balked at raising the gasoline tax by 6 cents a gallon.
"There were some initial negative responses" to the gasoline-tax proposal, said University of Hawaii at Hilo political science professor Rick Castberg. But Castberg said he did not think there was any residual resentment from Kim's tax proposal.
"I think he's a sure winner," Castberg said.
At the moment, Kim's only opponents in the nonpartisan race are Kona nurseryman Kelly Greenwell and marijuana legalization advocate Roger Christie.
Kim said he is running "on behalf of my entire Cabinet."
"His team is phenomenal," said Cyndy Staudt, executive director of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. Kim's department heads were well-received when they gave a group report to West Hawaii residents in October, she said.
"He respects the land. We have to have the environment to do the business," she said.
Kim's administration recently hired longtime environmentalist Nelson Ho, a frequent critic of development on Mauna Kea, as deputy director of the Department of Environmental Management, which is concerned with sewage, garbage and recycling.
When he ran in 2000, Kim described himself as an "applicant" for the job of mayor. He said his campaign theme for himself and the Cabinet now will be, "Will you consider extending our contract?"
As he did four years ago, he will refuse donations larger than $10.
Four years ago, Kim had just retired from 24 years as head of the county Civil Defense agency. His campaigning was primarily roadside waving.
Kim said he will try to do that again, but not as much.
"I have a job now," he said.