Candidate Profile Statement
July 24, 2006
Influencing public policy has been my life’s passion. I have worked for over 30 years to build communities that are sustainable, healthy and prosperous—as a student at Kaua`i High, Stanford University, and the University of Washington Law School and as a Legal Aid attorney, citizen activist, mayor of Kaua`i, and councilmember.
To live on Kaua`i is a gift. Knowing this, I have worked with a deep commitment to “keep Kaua`i Kaua`i” and to create lasting benefits for our island home. My leadership has resulted in the Sunshine Markets, our first bike path, self-help housing, recycling and composting, the Kaua`i Bus, the electric co-op, park and open spaces expansion, construction of almost 1000 affordable homes, and creation of an island-wide emergency communication system.
Right now, I’m working on effective drug prevention programs; a fair, workable vacation rental bill; requiring an Environmental Impact Statement for the Superferry; an affordable housing policy; a multimodal land transportation plan and an equitable real property tax system.
My primary goal is to establish good planning on Kaua`i to ensure a sustainable, livable, and affordable community. I want to work with you to build a community of great prosperity, not only in material terms, but also as measured by the quality of our lives—in the richness of our public places, the effectiveness of our infrastructure, the wealth of culture and arts, and the presence of aloha.
I humbly ask for one of your council votes.