(Editor’s Note: Following is a campaign-related letter from James Weatherford, Ph.D., who intends to run for the Hawaii County Council District 5 seat currently occupied by Emily Naeole-Beason. Big Island Chronicle is publishing the following letter as an introduction to Weatherford as a political candidate in the campaign season to come. Those intending to seek public office in Hawaii County are encouraged to write introductory letters to be published here. Introductions aside, those who wish to publicize their campaign on this blog should buy an ad. Email newswoman@mac.com for ad rates.)
James Weatherford
Aloha,
My name is James Weatherford and I will be a candidate for Hawaii County Council District 5 in 2010. With my wife, Elizabeth, I reside in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
The Council can make a positive difference in what matters to us all. As a Councilor, I will be a creative and productive force in helping to bring that difference to materialize.
My approach on the Council will be to apply the work ethic I learned as a child doing farm chores and applied in more than 20 years of public service in agriculture and rural development, mass transit, economic analysis, and education.
My priority on the Council will be good government for Hawaii County and sustainable livelihood in Puna. I will get to work on this on Day One, because I have a clear awareness of persisting and emerging issues, a sound grasp of the nature of alternatives available to successfully contend with the issues, and a well-grounded understanding of the role of the Council in implementing appropriate measures.As a member of the community, I have contributed to projects which will have action items on the Council agenda in coming years: the Puna Community Development Plan, the Hawaii County Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan, and the Hawaii County Agriculture Development Plan. Having been a contributor to these projects, I am prepared to work on them in Council.
Two examples of my efforts as a private citizen advocating for good government show that I understand what the Council is supposed to be doing. On June 15, 2009, I requested the State Office of Information Practices investigate possible violations of the Sunshine Law associated with the Council reorganization scheduled for June 16. The OIP found that a violation had indeed occurred. From June 2006 to May 2008, I led community opposition to a garbage incinerator proposal being considered by the County. The proposal, which arose from a flawed process and promoted a technology with a history of problems, would have burdened the County with an unprecedented debt of $125 million. I publicized the proposal’s shortcomings, testified at Council on numerous occasions, and urged individual Council members to reject this expensive, dirty deception. The Council voted down the proposal.
My years of work in public service, my contributions to planning as a member of the community, and my ability to influence policy as a private citizen demonstrate that I understand what needs doing and I know how to do it. I walk the talk.
You can learn more about me and my candidacy at jamesweatherford.com.
January 1st, 2010 at 3:05 pm
James,
I know that deep in your heart you want to be the best that you can be. Yes, you have brought attention to some of the issues that have plagued Hawaii for a long time and for that I admire you and your efforts. Being a council member to me seems more than just being a “Mr. Green or the Earth’s little helper”. I believe that when it comes to saving our planet you will be in the front row waving your green flag.
What I want to know as I believe many others will also want is just how will you put Puna’s 5th district ahead of the others? We have been suckling on the rear teat for years and have been the poor redheaded stepchild on the Big Island and to just make the landfill cleaner ain’t a gonna cut it for me.
Can you tackle the home owners insurance problem in lava zones #1 & #2 ? Hell Jimmy, my insurance payments almost equal my mortgage payments. Knock them down and I will gladly pay a bag charge at the transfer station. Get us old folks much more police protection and maybe some kind of property tax relief, then tell me HOW you are going to approach it, then and only then will you get my single vote.
Green is good but it ain’t all that there is.
Respectfully,
The Lack
January 1st, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Thanks for your comments, Tom. You can be counted on to stir the pot.
Insurance: my family owns property in Nanawale Homesteads (Lava Zone 2) and we know very well about the insurance there being truly painful. Can I (or any other Council member) do anything about it? Maybe encourage the State Legislature in that direction with a non-binding Resolution. However, the County government has no jurisdiction over insurance in terms of being able to do something legally binding. If I, or anybody else, were to tell you anything different, it would just be pandering and I ain’t going there.
‘Green’: There are lots of things very important that may not always be considered ‘green’. To name a few — locally-owned business, fire and police, road conditions, parks, and getting corruption out of public procurement. That said, what the world is coming to realize is that a clean community is good for important matters like local business, overall health of the people in the community, job opportunities, and more.
Tax relief for kupuna: Interesting idea. I am aware that some local jurisdictions have a variation of this and I will be learning more — as I indicate below, it is ideas like this from people like you that make for getting things done. Again, for me or anyone else to claim to already have all the good ideas would be pandering.
Police protection: A major goal of mine is for the County to establish as highest law enforcement priority to be protection of life and property. What does this mean? Focus on it (the criminals and criminal-wannabes will hear). Get the Mayor, the Police Commission, and Police Chief to commit to it. Put protection of life and property, and nothing else, in the Police budget. Require it in reporting.
Puna the ’stepchild’ no more: Getting an equitable treatment in the County budget is a basic step. Foremost examples: Police manpower for protection of life and property; and, something not done in the last 3 years, Capital improvement projects. I am able to take doable, community-desired projects to the Mayor and Administration and do so from Day One.
For anything the County is going to do, money is always THE issue. The money that comes from taxes and money that is spent. Services require revenue. Tax reduction requires replacing that tax revenue with some other revenue and/or cutting out services. Higher taxes? Less spending? There is a third leg to this stool: cutting out the waste in the procurement process. I contend there is much to be done in this third area and look forward to taking on that task.
What is the most important thing I can and will do? Listen to what my constituents have to say (e.g., your idea re tax rates for kupuna). I would draw upon my past experience as an Agricultural Extension Agent wherein I listened to what farmers were saying their situation was (about their goals and about their problems) and then found the resources to help.
January 1st, 2010 at 7:05 pm
People know we don’t wlways agree on method. However we both want bettergovernments. First,I’d know you won’t blame your Treasurer for 3K in mistakes. Second ,I know you recognize the division of church and state. Third,you also know whwere to look for vital information necessary in making an intelligent decision. Sadly our present Councilperson seems deficient in all these skills. She is good at accepting an undeserved pay raise, panhandling, wanting tents as homes and generally being the lowest common denominator on the Council. She has insulted myself and others at Council meetings because we weren’t born here. She has made remarks which are hurtful. Your election would mean brining some dignity to an office which surely in needs of it.
Now matter how it goes good luck.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Just a note: no one’s gonna save the planet, it doesn’t need it.
Only thing in jepordy is our viability on it.
So keeping it as green as possible as long as possible will only ensure our viability will continue a little longer. No trees left in Puna and it will look like Waikaloa.
James how or what could you do to regulate the illegal grubbing that continues to this very day?
Un regulated, un fined when violated,(class C felony for 10 yards or more) lot after lot? Nothing.
And on the police/prosecutor/courts trinity if it’s not working well, which it isn’t (IMO), what a councilperson going to do about that?
How quickly could something be done to get clean up of these dumps sites which appears the health department has seemed to forgotten about?
And would you be for a hydrogen/electric trolly on R/R before construction on the circles?
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:18 am
Wish you as well as all the other candidates luck this year. Its looking to be a very interesting district 5 race.
Mr. Weeathorford…. one question if I may?
Would you participate in a debate amongst other candidates like some of us organized in the last election?
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:50 am
Damon,
Yes, I would look forward to a debate / forum (the more the better, the sooner the better) among all candidates.
January 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 am
Peter (a.k.a. hpp),
The Council sets policy for the County, within the limits of the County Charter and the State Constitution. The principal means it has of doing this are through budget allocation, legally binding ordinances, and non-binding resolutions. Council can also have an influence through cooperation with and coercion of Departments, and through cooperation with community organizations (both non-profit and for profit), and with state and federal legislators and agencies. The Council does not administer programs nor enforce laws. Neither does it regulate the courts.
Illegal grubbing and illegal dumps sites: There are County Ordinances regarding these. Of course, as everyone knows, they are not being enforced. Are the Ordinances inadequate? If so, then they can be changed to address those inadequacies, and I would be eager to do so. If the way the Ordinances are written is adequate, then the Council’s next option is through budget allocation and the cooperation / coercion route.
Police/prosecutor/courts: the County Council has no authority over the courts and prosecutor. The main influence the County Council has over the Police, currently, is in the budget, and in review/approval of the Mayor’s appointees to the Police Commission. As I said above, the highest law enforcement priority must be protection of life and property, and the budget is one component of making that happen – one I intend to use to the fullest. The Police Commission is another, and appointees before the Council will need to elaborate on what they view as the highest law enforcement priority. An ordinance to establish an Internal Police Auditor was proposed a few years ago and voted down by the Council. Working with a retired judge and prosecutor, I put together that legislation for Bob Jacobson and would be ready to bring a proposal for some type of police oversight before the Council again.
Railroad Avenue: the Puna Community Development Plan has identified Railroad Avenue for a hiking / biking corridor. The PCDP was put together with broad community input and consensus. I support the PCDP. Whatever types of capital improvement projects are brought forward, I will insist on seeing some real analysis on the costs and benefits.
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 am
I cannot vote in Puna but I like what I read about this candidate’s understanding of council limits and authority. I would see a better directed focus.
You cannot just meander into the desert in the name of some imaginary god or better health and accomplish more more than doubt.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:24 pm
At our next meeting, I’ll ask fellow Mainstreet Pahoa Association members if we can plan a couple or few Council/State Rep debates this campaign season. Might be kind of cool to have a fundraiser for Mainstreet by charging admittance. Then, maybe we could afford a July 4th Parade that people have asked us to arrange… or we can afford to buy candy for the cops and businesses to pass out this Halloween… or we can pay for radio/newspaper/blog advertising for the holiday parade and pay for a radio station to be on location parade day…
How about it, state rep and Council candidates… political debates as fundraisers…?
HAhahahahahahaha
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Tiff,
If that helps the Association and it helps people get interested in and participating in the election, have a go!
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Hugh,
Thanks for your positive comments.
Indeed, my observation has been that the past Council term has been too much about what the Council is not about.
These misadventures have taken the Council’s focus away from its core business and degraded the Council’s credibility in the community.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Happy Palindrome day !!!
01-02-2010 frontwards and backwards 0102-20-10
like a trolley/train it can go either way, flexabile,
let’s not keeping going in the same circles.
I’d vote for anyone who came up with something different.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Tiff…
The last District 5 Debate only had the candidates and about 15-30 folks.
I would hold off on trying to charge people for a debate that we all need to hear.
January 4th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Aunty Em will not debate. Trust me, she knows better. I think. And if she does choose to take part in a formal debate, and gets toasted/roasted by her fellow panelist and/or audience, watch out. You (Her opponents and detractors) will play right into her game. Remember, Aunty Em has always played the “I may not talk good, but….” card and it has worked like a charm. No offense to Dr. Weatherford, but if you go in there talking all big and smart in hopes of further exposing Aunty’s apparent shortfalls (via Puna’s “needs”), it just might blow up in your face at the polls. Anybody who runs against Aunty had better focus on GETTING ELECTED instead of trying to expose the shortfalls of Aunty. If not, Aunty will trounce you. She has a proven track record of knowing how to get elected. And furthermore, she has aligned herself with the old boys in Hilo. By doing so, you come with much “out of the district” support along with support from her cousin Billy. You watch. Aunty got a machine working for her. YOu guys better be ready.
Free Beer always works. Anybody Remember Les Browns’ home brew?
January 4th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Casual Observer makes some astute observations.
January 4th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Casual Observer,
Thanks for the advice.
Please note that in a debate or any other place or time my campaign is not about Emily Naeole — never has been, never will be. It is about giving folks an opportunity to get to know me and hear me out. Besides the obvious risk of self-destruction for anyone that as you point out, attacking on other people is simply not my style.
If you are a resident of District 5, please vote for me
January 5th, 2010 at 10:04 am
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