Traffic, development solutions vary

PUHI — Nearly 400 residents filled the Performing Arts Center Tuesday evening at Kaua‘i Community College for the first major debate exclusively featuring the four mayoral candidates seeking election this fall.

The Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, its second of three political forums geared toward airing the views of those running for office on island. Candidate responses were limited to two minutes with one-minute rebuttals.

While some controversial issues clearly divided the candidates, such as Hawaii Superferry and a proposed waste-to-energy plant, they differed more on how they would tackle the agreed upon challenges facing the county, such as traffic and development.

Councilman Mel Rapozo, now serving his third two-year term on the seven-member legislative body, said he would be a decisive leader willing to look beyond the political impact and able to utilize his national contacts to get things done.

“Inaction is one of the biggest problems in government,” the 43-year-old Lihu‘e resident said. “I will not shy away.”

Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, 58, pointed at her decades-long history as an effective politician, which includes experience as the county’s mayor when Hurricane Iniki hit in 1992 and several terms on the council starting in 1976.

“I am the most experienced, the most committed,” she said. “In these uncertain times, the quality of leadership is most critical.”

Bernard Carvalho, who is on leave from his post as director of the county Parks and Recreation Department while he runs his campaign, said he would utilize his skills in bringing together the key players to solve problems.

“My leadership style is centered around collaboration,” the 46-year-old Kapa‘a resident said. “I make dialog move successfully to action.”

Political outsider Rolf Bieber, a 42-year-old computer technician at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, said as mayor he would foster a truly open government that is transparent to the community and yields to the majority.

“We’ve got a system that is broken like you don’t even know … or maybe you do,” he said. “It’s time for the county to grow up.”

The moderator, political analyst Dan Boylan, hit the candidates with the Superferry question early in the debate.

Rapozo and Carvalho said they would actively support the inter-island catamaran’s return to Kaua‘i after the Act 2 environmental impact statement is completed, assuming there are no significant findings.

“We cannot wait … or fall victim to the vocal minority of this island,” Rapozo said. “We can support the Superferry and the Superferry can be a viable mode of transportation here.”

For the past three weeks, Rapozo said he has been talking to Superferry President Thomas Fargo about resuming service between Honolulu and Nawiliwili, which has been on hold for the past year after protests and legal challenges.

He said the vessel’s current operation between O‘ahu and Maui, which has included vehicle checks for invasive species, has “met or exceeded my expectations.”

The Islands are separated by ocean but connected by families and businesses, Carvalho said, adding that another form of transportation is needed.

“Once the study is done, I do look forward to supporting the return of the Superferry,” he said.

Bieber and Yukimura agreed that an alternative form of inter-island transportation is needed, but disagreed with Carvalho and Rapozo’s claim that the Superferry is the answer.

They underscored the fact that the study mandated last year by a special session of the state Legislature is merely a disclosure document that fails to require the company to mediate any environmental concerns.

Yukimura said she needs assurance the issues that may be identified in the environmental assessment — such as traffic, drugs, overcrowded parks, invasive species and cultural theft — will be operationally addressed and “not just with words.”

The crowd, judging by its applause, seemed to favor the candidates who welcomed the Superferry’s return. The environment was just the opposite the last time the candidates shared the stage, Aug. 5 at the Eco-Roundtable’s political forum.

A full, independent EIS is the only acceptable measure, Bieber said, but added that if a majority of the island’s roughly 63,000 residents wanted service to resume he would heed their wish.

All four candidates agreed solid waste is a critical issue for the county, which is working to add life to its existing landfill in Kekaha and site a new one.

Rapozo said he would work to divert the waste stream through recycling initiatives, but said ultimately “one of you will get a landfill in your neighborhood” and he will provide the leadership necessary to make that tough decision.

He and Carvalho backed the updated integrated solid waste management plan, which calls for a waste-to-energy plant and a materials recovery facility among other measures.

“I would dive right into that plan,” Carvalho said, adding that he would need to gather community input before deciding where a new landfill should be located. “It’s a very delicate situation.”

“It’s very delicate because we have leadership that’s waited way too long,” Bieber said. “This is an embarrassment … stop talking and get working and implement something.”

“Any action is not better than no action,” Yukimura said, adding that she has done more to tackle the solid waste problem than the other three candidates combined.

A waste-to-energy facility would tie the county to a major mortgage and heavy tipping fees, she said.

Rapozo said a top reason he is running for mayor is to implement the expensive studies the council has funded.

He highlighted the $650,000 host community benefit fund he introduced that passed in the council’s last budget session.

Bieber said the money, which Rapozo said is to be used for community projects in Kekaha as a way of thanking them for housing the landfill for so many years, amounted to a political “buy-off.”

The county needs a leader who would establish curbside recycling, more thrift stores and a ban on plastic bags, Yukimura said.

Another brewing storm in the county centers on a bill to reform the property tax system. Residents yesterday packed the Historic County Building to testify on the proposed legislation, many citing their objections to the repeal of the 2 percent cap on annual tax increases for owner-occupied homes.

Rapozo said he opposes eliminating the cap, which provides stability and predictability for residents.

But Yukimura said the cap forces other categories, such as resorts, to pick up the tab.

“Otherwise the division gets wider and wider and wider as the years go on,” she said.

Carvalho said more community dialog is needed before passing the tax bill.

As of press time, council members were still debating the bill, which the administration submitted in May.

“It’s a complex issue,” Car-valho said. “It has to be fair and equitable to the people of the island.”

Removing the cap “reeks of a tax hike,” Bieber said, adding that he opposes the legislation’s proposed increase in the cost of appeals and questions the tax assessment process.

The county should start “land banking” if it is to tackle the affordable housing crisis, Rapozo said, which would allow government officials to attract developers with the lure of infrastructure-ready property.

Yukimura said the county could bolster its economy by building on the Kaua‘i Made initiative, a push to buy local products.

“Wherever there are needs, there are potential jobs and businesses,” she said. “Let’s do Kaua‘i Green.”

The primary election is Sept. 20. If a candidate fails to win more than 50 percent of the total votes cast, the top two vote-getters will enter a run-off at the Nov. 4 election.

The next chamber debate for council candidates is at 7:30 a.m., Oct. 14, at JJ’s Broiler in Nawiliwili.

The Garden Island will host a political forum for mayoral candidates at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 25 at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center; and one for council candidates at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 16 at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com