Look who’s coming to the council

NOTE: MUG OF ASING AVAILABLEAsing is expected to shake up county

government

By DENNIS WILKEN

TGI Staff Writer

In December,

the new Kaua`i County Council will begin two years of guiding the political and

economic fortunes of this island.

But since only one incumbent, Billy

Swain, didn’t win re-election, and since the only newcomer, Bill “Kaipo” Asing,

has already served multiple terms as a council member before trying to be

elected mayor four years ago, will there be much real change?

Despite being

a longtime friend and admirer of Asing, John Barretto Jr., another former

council member, doesn’t think so.

“Kaipo is just one man. Maybe people

don’t want the change,” said Barretto, whose attempt to return to the council

fell short in this year’s election. The public complain “so much” about the

incumbents but “didn’t put any new faces in.”

“Kaipo and I served together

on the council in 1985 and 1986. That was a 5-2 council,” Barretto said,

explaining that he and Asing usually voted together in the minority. “But we

are going to know what’s going on behind the scenes now, with Kaipo in there.

The people should have that knowledge, and Kaipo will make things

public.”

Councilman Gary Hooser, re-elected despite being the only

incumbent council member not endorsed by the Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce, speaks

highly of Asing.

“He has a history of asking questions and I do the same. I

do think that will make it (the new council) different,” Hooser said. “There

will be more discussion and there are areas that need more discussion, like the

acquisition of Kaua`i Electric and high-tech solutions to the county’s

solid-waste problems.

“I welcome the addition of Kaipo. I think we as a

council will be dealing with the same major issues, and the addition of Kaipo

shouldn’t slow us down. Kaua`i Electric and waste (disposal) are very

important.”

In addition, Hooser said that although it wouldn’t come into

play until next summer, when budget discussions begin again, he looks forward

to discussing the audit powers voted to the council last week.

Voters

approved a charter amendment – first proposed by Hooser – that will enable the

council to conduct performance audits of county departments, a power that

formerly rested solely with the mayor.

Hooser did sound a slightly

cautionary note about the new council’s makeup.

“Although I look forward to

serving with Kaipo, I don’t really know him personally. I’ve never worked with

him before,” Hooser said.

But Barretto has served with Asing, and he said,

“Kaipo does his homework. He really researches things and he gets things out

into the public, and that hasn’t been happening” with the current council

members. “It will happen with Kaipo in there.”

Staff writer Dennis

Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and dwilken@pulitzer.net