LIHU’E — Roger Ridgeley Jr., a Kapa`a-area small businessman, is running for Kaua`i County Council because he’s tired. “I’m tired of the council wasting our money,” Ridgeley said. “They waste money on solid waste. They wasted $5 million on the
LIHU’E — Roger Ridgeley Jr., a Kapa`a-area small businessman, is running for
Kaua`i County Council because he’s tired.
“I’m tired of the council
wasting our money,” Ridgeley said. “They waste money on solid waste. They
wasted $5 million on the entrance to the airport.”
The 48-year-old
Philadelphian has lived on Kaua`i with his wife Carol for 11 years.For the past
10 years, he’s owned and operated A Tow in Paradise.
Ridgeley said a big
problem in Kaua`i politics is the exclusion of the average citizen from
decision-making.
“What happens here is that things are discussed and
decided on before the people even know what’s going on,” he
claimed.
Ridgeley said that would change if he is elected.
“I don’t owe
anybody anything.I’m a small business owner and a man of action. I would bring
less talk and more action to the council,” Ridgeley said.
Another problem,
according to Ridgeley, is that working people can’t attend the council’s 1
p.m.Wednesday meetings.
“Meeting times should be moved to 4 or 5 p.m.,” he
said.
Ridgeley said if he doesn’t win in this, his first attempt at council
after a decade living on the island, that defeat wouldn’t discourage
him.
“I’d probably run again,” he said.
Ridgeley said his heroes
growing up were his father, Robin Hood and Zorro.
Ridgeley is the father of
one daughter who lives in California.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can
be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and dwilken@pulitzer.net
