Former councilman
challenges Mayor Kim
HILO >> Former Hawaii County Councilman Dominic Yagong has announced his intention to run for mayor against incumbent Harry Kim, criticizing Kim's tax increases and hiring proposals.
With Council approval, Kim raised the minimum tax on low-value properties and increased property tax rates 25 percent overall, although the new rates are still lower than a decade ago.
A member of the Hawaii County Council from 1996 to 2002, Dominic Yagong takes issue with the mayor's tax increases and hiring proposals.
Kim failed in an attempt to increase the county gasoline tax by 6 cents a gallon. Yagong criticized Kim's intent to use the increase to hire new county workers.
Kim said the workers are needed to fix county streets, while Yagong said the work should be done by private contractors.
Yagong said he would look for ways to reduce the size of government, including stopping pay raises for county employees.
"We cannot continue to budget for pay increases," he said.
Also in the nonpartisan mayor's race are Kona nurseryman Kelly Greenwell and Puna marijuana advocate Roger Christie. A resort food and gift store manager, Yagong served in the County Council from 1996 to 2002.
