State senator Avery Chumbley will represent Kaua’i no more, as 2002 marked the last year for the canoe districts that had legislators representing districts that combined sections of Kaua’i and Maui. Chumbley, vice-chair of the education committee; labor committee; and
State senator Avery Chumbley will represent Kaua’i no more, as 2002 marked the last year for the canoe districts that had legislators representing districts that combined sections of Kaua’i and Maui.
Chumbley, vice-chair of the education committee; labor committee; and a member of the commerce, consumer protection and housing committee, said he’s been working on policy issues such as campaign reform.
“The legislature did enact some substantial reform that will prohibit contributions from people related to non-bid contracts,” Chumbley said.
Chumbley said the executive branch and every county will be affected by the reforms, which defines a more fair process for campaign contributions.
Unions and corporations are prohibited from giving direct campaign contributions; persons who enter into state or county government contracts are prohibited from contributing for a limited time before and after the contract; and aggregate campaign contributions from any person or entity may not exceed $25,000 in any calendar year.
Chumbley considered 2002 to be a good year for the island, especially since Kaua’i received $57 million for capital improvements for roads, highways and harbors. This money will also go toward improving state parks, a West Kaua’i irrigation system, the Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital and the state judiciary complex in Lihu’e.
This session included a law change that will give immunity to lifeguards, allowing them to serve their duty on county and non-county beaches without taking liability or worrying about lawsuits for drownings or injuries when helping people on any Kaua’i beach. Kaua’i averages 12 ocean drownings each year, the highest in the state.
“What I wanted would have been the same level of sovereign immunity as the state enjoys, but this is clearly a step forward,” Chumbley noted.
Chumbley said he would have liked to see more changes in education. He said he doesn’t believe that statutorily changing the organization of the board of education would be effective without also focusing on funding issues.
“What we really need to do is have a constitutional convention…to look at governance and funding of public education,” Chumbley said
Chumbley said he was disappointed that the oral health plan for Hawai’i won’t go into effect. There is a problem with dental health on Kaua’i, especially among children, students and young adults, Chumbley said.
This bill would have established a comprehensive statewide strategy of delivery of dental health services, and an attempt to bring a program that would have reached out and provided low-cost or no-cost services to those who need it.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
