Honolulu City Council
VI
Rod Tam
Nonpartisan
Age: 52
Job: Currently city councilman representing District 6
Past: State legislator for 20 years
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
No answer given.
What should be done about the city's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch?
As the Chair of the Public Works ... Committee, it was my recommendation that the landfill be expanded with the goal of eventually closing it when our recycling, alternative technologies and waste-to-energy ... plants can handle all our waste disposal ...
What should the city do about homelessness?
The city should partner with the state and private organizations to assist those who want to help themselves overcome their particular situation. This is already being done but needs to be expanded so it reaches more people. ...
VI
Michael "Mike" Wilcox
Nonpartisan
Age: 44
Job: Recording engineer
Past: Self-employed business owner for the past 16 years
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
Common sense and a desire to make Honolulu a better place. Having been to neighborhood board meetings all across Oahu, I am very aware of the problems we are facing and the concerns of Oahu's citizens.
What should be done about the city's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch?
The city needs to look into expanding HPOWER and doing more in the way of recycling. I feel that the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill cannot stay open for another 15 years.
What should the city do about homelessness?
The city and the state need to work together and come up with more affordable housing projects. Both also need to work on transitional housing and skills training for those who need it, to get the homeless into affordable housing.
VIII
Kenneth P. Harmeyer
Nonpartisan
Age: 64
Job: Professional driver
Past: Involved in grassroots politics for 30 years
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
I have been involved in grassroots local politics for over 30 years. I believe a Council member should be involved in their community. I am involved with Special Olympics, Hawaii Beekeepers, and Moanalua Valley Community Association, ... other local organizations.
What should be done about the city's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch?
We need to get the recycling program up and running now, not two years from now. If the curbside recycling program were in full operation we would cut several hundred tons of garbage currently heading to the landfill each day. ...
What should the city do about homelessness?
Part of the solution would be rent control. Many people are homeless because they cannot afford to pay rent any longer. I feel the city needs to work closely with the local nonprofit organizations that work with the homeless. ...
VIII
Gary H. Okino
Nonpartisan
Age: 64
Job: Councilmember - District 8
Past: City planner (retired)
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
As the current Council member for District 8, I'm familiar with all issues facing our community and Honolulu. As an urban planner with 33 years of city experience, I know how the city works and how to get things done.
What should be done about the city's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch?
Waimanalo Gulch is the only readily available site for the city's landfill. The city must assure that operations there remain clean and well managed while we pursue alternative means of disposing of our solid waste.
What should the city do about homelessness?
Resolving the problem of homelessness will require the joint effort of both the public and private sectors. The city can, and must continue to, facilitate the development of more affordable rental projects.
VIII
Inam Rahman
Nonpartisan
Age: 54
Job: Physician (internal medicine, sports medicine, diabetes)
Past: Ran for U.S. Congress 2004
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
My experience in business, media, technology, education, and especially health care programs and my desire to use these skills to serve the public. I wish to provide new leadership to give people a true voice into, and accountability of, city affairs. ...
What should be done about the city's landfill at Waimanalo Gulch?
Ideally, we should try to perform the same task we do in our daily life ... empty it regularly for appropriate disposal. However, due to multiple factors we may end up closing it. Until then, we should establish additional recycling programs. ...
What should the city do about homelessness?
We need to collaborate with state/ private/nonprofit organizations to provide subsidized housing and give significant tax credits and support to organizations that provide temporary housing, food and clothing to homeless people and/or provide shelter and counseling to mentally ill ...
