Ron Agor, of Agor Architecture in Kukui Grove Commercial Village, was re-elected chair of the Kaua’i Republican Party at its county convention at the Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort recently. Nearly 50 delegates attended. Agor said the party’s focus remains on
Ron Agor, of Agor Architecture in Kukui Grove Commercial Village, was re-elected chair of the Kaua’i Republican Party at its county convention at the Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort recently.
Nearly 50 delegates attended.
Agor said the party’s focus remains on being an agent for change, a party that will be persistent in embracing and influencing all members of the community.
“Basically, it’s the preparation for our crusade in the 2004 elections,” Agor said of the odd-numbered-year convention held primarily to elect county officers.
“Everybody’s excited about it. We have to start early to start bringing ideas to the table,” he said.
“We need to start reaching out, embracing the community, and trying to influence those that are on the fence, and, really, looking at us as an agent of change first, then maybe the Republican Party second,” he said.
The county convention also builds momentum toward the state party convention, set for Friday through Sunday, May 16 to 18, at Waikoloa on the Big Island, Agor said.
For the first time in many years, Republicans hold the top offices in the country, state and county. Agor feels all three elected leaders are doing a good job for the people and the party.
Mayor Bryan Baptiste addressed the Kaua’i convention, offering an update of his first four months in office.
“The vision of bringing the government back to the people is materializing with his Leo O Kaua’i meetings. And I’ve been hearing a lot from the community about those meetings,” he said.
“They’re so glad to have meetings like that, to actually give their input for the destiny of their own community,” said Agor.
“I guess the governor’s struggling” in terms of getting some of her initiatives past the Democrat-controlled state Legislature, he said. Local school boards is one area where Lingle’s plan is having difficulty at the Legislature, he added.
“We’re kind of mobilizing the party, and everybody who got involved in the election, to call their legislators and encourage them to support Lingle’s policies and initiatives,” he said.
Regarding President Bush, Agor said, “Our prayers are with him. I think the whole community, whether they were divided or not on the issue of whether we should go to war, now that we’re there we’re all hoping that the plan works, that the president has made the right decision, and will make the right decisions to benefit the whole world.”
Back to the convention, Agor said the party platform is reviewed at conventions in even-numbered years.
Also elected were Ted Daligdig, first vice chair; Bill Georgi, second vice chair; Lisa Beland, third vice chair; and Edwin Navarro, fourth vice chair.
Bill Clifford and Ed Kaahea, chairs for state House District 14 (Ha’ena to Kapa’a) and 15 (Wailua to Koloa), respectively, were also at attendance. A new chair for District 16 (Po’ipu to Mana, Ni’ihau) is expected to be elected soon, Agor said.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
