As the newly elected Kaua‘i County Council members consider who they want to serve as chair of the seven-member legislative body, we urge them to choose an experienced leader with a passion for serving the people. We want the next
As the newly elected Kaua‘i County Council members consider who they want to serve as chair of the seven-member legislative body, we urge them to choose an experienced leader with a passion for serving the people.
We want the next era of county lawmaking to be steered by someone who believes in government transparency and honors the oath of office to the letter.
After weighing what each of the seven members who will be sworn in Dec. 1 bring to the table, we believe current Vice Chair Jay Furfaro is best suited to be the next council chair.
We encourage his colleagues — old and new — to back him for this position.
Furfaro’s actions in office over the past eight years demonstrate his commitment to this island and its residents. He understands the challenge of preserving Kaua‘i’s past while addressing the island’s future needs.
He is a proven leader, a person who hears all sides of the discussion and weighs what is best for the community at large.
Furfaro stands his ground when necessary, but doesn’t hesitate to reach for compromise as appropriate.
As he wraps up his third consecutive term in office, he offers continuity and an intimate knowledge of where things are at right now.
Our endorsement of Furfaro for chair does not mean we do not see the talent and capabilities of the other six members voters recently elected to represent them for the next two years. Two of the seven are entering their sophomore terms, two are returning after a two-year absence, one is brand new to the council and the other is entering his third term. Furfaro is entering his fifth term. He has prior experience as chairman for a stint in 2008 and served as vice chairman for the last two years.
The diverse crop of candidates will mean some sparks will fly at their Wednesday meetings. But this is good so long as the discussion remains a healthy debate and not personal attacks as we have seen happen in the past on the council floor.
We believe Furfaro is the best person to keep the ship upright and steer it toward success. With his hotel business background and close ties to the local culture, we believe he will be a unifier willing to lead Kaua‘i through a difficult economy and into a more transparent and healthy era in county government.
When the council goes to organize itself, we also hope the members do their due diligence to ensure the current county clerk and the individuals holding other key positions are still the most appropriate choices for those jobs. We want the best team in place for Kauai which, after a thorough review, may require some difficult choices but we urge the next council to keep the voters in mind who elected them to serve this great community.
