Current job: Self-employed mortgage and real estate broker/property management
Residence, how long you’ve lived in the district: Born and raised in Honolulu, transitioned to Waimea district in 1987
Background that qualifies you for the position: I am a hands-on community volunteer, business and professional advocate and common sense decision-maker. Current – Chair for the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Immediate past President of the Waimea Community Association; Board member of the Waimea Outdoor Circle and member of the Waimea Hawai’ian Civic club. Past – Chair for the Governor’s West Hawai’i Council of Advisors and County Salary Commission; County Commissioner for the Environmental Management; Past President for North Hawai’i Rotary, PATH and Waimea Community Association; I would offer a much needed “New Approach” and a “Can Do” attitude on our County Council for discussing, collaborating, compromising and addressing the needs of each district to not only realize our own fair share of County attention and support but achieve common benefits for all of us island wide.
What else have you run for? Have you been in public office before and if so, what position? I have been a challenger for State House twice and BOE last election cycle. Incumbents won reelection.
What are the biggest issue in your district and your proposed solutions? We are a district of multiple and distinct communities spread out geographically with individual needs and desires. Our district’s advocacy is very important to each of them and the incumbent has concentrated mostly on broad based initiatives rather than attending to specific impacts such as sustaining small business, local jobs and lifestyle preservation benefits. I offer a more local style and less combative approach to working with the majority and leadership rather than continuing to butt head-on with an East vs. West mentality, resulting in less cooperation and results from and for our district.
What is your position on county taxes and fees? Are they high enough or should they continue to increase? County taxes and fees are always too high when proper budgeting techniques and standards are not followed, resulting in “spend and tax” to make up the generous approvals to fund things. The main revenue generator, Real Property Tax system needs review and possibly overhaul to be both fair, keep fueling the immediate local economy rather than stopping it and to recognize/attract rather than penalize our Ag assets and job-generator industries such as eco tourism, astronomy attractions and technical or scientific spin-off benefits. We can start with identifying prime agriculture lands so we begin to follow a general plan with proper rezoning and zoning enforcement.
Would you sign a pledge not to raise taxes in the future by introducing legislation or supporting legislation that raises taxes? Yes, I would not introduce or support legislation that raises taxes with only the one exception for any possible transitioning of the past imbalanced budget programs that specifically impacts my/our district on a temporary and sunset basis if needed.
Please share the most interesting thing about yourself. Vintage auto buff and weekend mechanic advocate when volunteering does not get in the way. I thought I was beginning to learn how to balance the two?
If you could ask any of your competitors one question, what would you ask and to who? Of the incumbent: As self-proclaimed in the past election cycle that you should be judged for re election based upon how many affordable homes you have delivered to our district, just how many are there and why do you think the County is better at managing such opportunities than private industry agreements?
Endorsements? I have not actively solicited them, have answered most all surveys/interviews diligently and honestly. I would be happy to receive like-minded support but know of only the Kona Tea Party recommendation at this juncture.
Contact information:
Phone: 808 895-7515
E-mail: jws@aloha.net
Mail: PO Box 190, Kamuela, HI 96743
Web site address: www.sanborncampaign.org
Campaign Slogan or Theme: “A New Approach” in representing County Council District 9