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South Maui Sustainability – Creating A Sustainable South Maui
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DIRE – Don’t Inject, Redirect – Phase out injection wells to reuse the water and save the reefs
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Save Honolua Coalition – Maintain open space, keep public access, and revitalize the ecosystem of Honolua Ahupua’a
Save Makena – A voice for citizens to protect and care for Makena State Park and the lands of Honua’ula
Sierra Club Maui – Explore, Enjoy, and Protect The Planet
Maui Coastal Land Trust – the time is at hand to protect Maui’s shorelines forever
Akaku Public Access TV – Community media thrives on community voices
Maui Cultural Lands – Education. Archaeological Stabilization. Reforestation.
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Elections are coming up shortly. As a long time county worker, I’ve seen five different administrations come and go. I’ve seen a lot of Directors and their policies come and go to the point I sometimes feel that my job is redesigned every four years and there is a lack of holding the person at the top accountable because it’s someone new every four years. I think there is something wrong with this system in terms of continuity, efficiency and long term forward movement. When the system is so political that it is no longer effective, do we need to continue on like this? What if there’s a better way?
When I vote for a candidate for an executive position such as mayor, governor or president, I do not want to hear campaign promises. I want to elect a leader that has a vision, a specific plan about how they will make my life better and work towards Focus Maui Nui goals. I want to know the policies and practices within the current government that they think are good and what areas they would like to improve on and how. I want to elect a leader willing to tap local talent regardless of their political affiliation. I want a leader that has an agenda without any hidden components. I do not expect this person to be an expert on all subjects. I do expect this person to be advised by community and professional experts on either side of the issue before making important decisions. I do not expect this person to be right 100% of the time. I do expect this person to admit when they’re wrong and take steps to correct the situation. I realize the person that is elected does not do everything alone, the person is part of a team of people that get appointed to help. So in the interest of transparency, why is it that we don’t always know who the rest of the team is before the elections occur. Why aren’t we the voters allowed to weigh in on who gets appointed?
If I were to run for Mayor, it would be to create long-term transformation in the way the county is run. If I were to fun for mayor, it would be as a team of people as oppose to one person. Before, even applying for the position, I think potential candidates should start to assemble the best and the brightest, those dedicated individuals who should make up the administration, starting with key appointments such as Managing Director and Planning Director, etc. A list of qualified individuals on both ends of the spectrum should be created and talked with, narrow down the field to the top few selections for each position. Bring together a group of people who can work well together, represent the community, the culture and have common values. The next step would be to get widespread community feedback on the team, what people like/dislike about the different appointments and go back for revision. Once the final team is assembled and has agreed upon a set of specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely goals. Then it would be time to apply for the position of mayor.
I’m not suggesting that we make this into a law or requirement, but as a voter, it is what I would like to see happening and what I would like to know. I believe if this method were to create a more efficiently run government, we would no longer have a problem of term limits because if things are running smoothly and the community doesn’t want any major changes the managing director could step up make the announcement that that is the plan and continue the administration. Should this become a successful model, it could influence politics on a national level.
I feel that when a mayor is capable of this type of organization, we as a community can prioritize our challenges and systematically work to overcome them.