Rich Turbin will announce his candidacy for Honolulu City Council, District 4 (Waikiki through Hawaii Kai) on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Kapiolani Park on the mauka side of Kalakaua Avenue, between the Waikiki Bandstand and the tennis courts on Kalakaua Ave. Kapiolani Park is a great recreational asset for Honolulu and next to Waikiki, a world class tourist destination. However across the street is the tent city of homeless people or illegal campers, a serious problem which must be addressed.
All friends and supporters are encouraged to be present for the announcement which is expected to be very short, followed by a picnic in the park.
Rich Turbin has been a Chair and member of the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board for 27 years where he worked on traffic solutions, school and park safety problems and maintaining the quality of life in East Honolulu. He founded the “Citizens for Fair Property Taxes” organization which resulted in a fair reduction of property taxes. He also serves as a Director of the Kahala Community Association.
He was 2005 President of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the 2000 Chair of the American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Section, comprising of 30,000 members. He is a Traphagen Distinguished Alumnus of Harvard Law School and a Magna Cum Laude alumnus from Cornell University. He is a former Peace Corps Volunteer and Hawaii Civil Rights Commissioner. He is presently Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative.
Rich Turbin has been a resident of East Honolulu for 38 years, paying property tax for 38 years. Married to Rai Saint Chu for 34 years, they raised their two children, Laurel, age 27 and Derek, age 25 in East Honolulu. Rich Turbin was a youth basketball, soccer and baseball coach and has been a very active volunteer and contributor to non-profits in our community.
Rich Turbin has as of December 31, 2009 raised over $100,000.00 in monetary donations from supporters. Many Honolulu residents who hope to move the direction of Hawaii politics have volunteered to assist his campaign.
Fiscal responsibility and not imposing higher taxes on Honolulu’s citizens is an essential element of Rich Turbin’s platform.
When elected to the City Council, Rich Turbin will revitalize Honolulu by devoting his energy and experience to improve Honolulu’s infrastructure by repairing our roads and sewers, finding the right traffic solutions, cleaning our parks and beaches and restoring Honolulu’s business vitality for the future of Honolulu for all our children.