Debbie Hect for County Coucil, district 8

ELECT Debbie HECHT

HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 8,
NORTH KONA
Vote SEPTEMBER 18.

Building Community by Representing You!
http://www.dhecht.com/

Experience:

• Working with community- Coordinator, 2% for the Land Fund campaign approved by 63% of voters in 2006, working to form the Kealakehe Regional Sports Park, Old Airport / Make'o Park, Hawaii Natural History Assoc, assistant tennis coach Kealakehe HS.

• Writing legislation- I know the job! I know the people, because I worked as a Legislative Aide for the county council, reviewing budgets, doing research and writing laws.

o Wrote the Land Fund charter amendment and presented to Charter Commission. This will be a 1% charter amendment on the ballot in November- PLEASE VOTE YES!

o Worked with League of Women Voters to write the charter amendment on Initiative and Referendum approved by voters 2008.

o IN 2009-2010- Wrote 5 charter amendments for the Charter Commission to consider on Vacancies, Board and Commissions, Recall, Revising the Charter and Impeachment.

• Small business owner, licensed real estate broker, property manager, project manager for remodeling and small-scale development since 1978.

• Teaching degree, trained facilitator and mediator.

Ideas:

• Strengthen communication between the county council and residents by:

o Providing email newsletter on issues

o Holding regular talk-story sessions

o Polling residents on important issues

o Meeting with citizen's organizations regularly

• Work with community to create a shoreline park system, from Kailua to Kawaihae using Land Fund money + matching funds, linked by National Park Service' s Ala Kahakai Historic Trail to create an eco-tourism industry, to protect access, reefs and fishing. Increase care for parks.

• Support Eco-tourism and Agriculture as sustainable industries to provide food, create jobs and stabilize our economy.

• Address infrastructure shortfalls- roads, sewers, water etc. and pave streets (like Ka'iminani).

• Work with business to provide park/ride and bus service for Kailua Village.

• Support responsible development and the Kona CDP

• Keep youth busy! Work to obtain funding to build Old Airport / Make'o Park. Work to get 200+ acres makai of Kealakehe HS for the Kealakehe Regional Sports Park to build sports facilities, work to expand youth programs.

Dates to Vote: Primary- September 18, 2010 * General- November 2, 2010 *

INFORMATION? go to: www.dhecht.com , call 989-3222 or electhecht@gmail.com

How you can help:

How you can HELP this is a Grassroots effort!

1. Basic Grassroots Strategy - Talk to friends, family and co-workers - Historically 4,000+ voters vote for Council in District 8. Please talk to 20 people in Kona, give them campaign literature and ask them to vote for me. Then ask them to talk to 20 morepeople to pass on the good word.

2. Hand out information –Please hand out campaign information in a public place or at a public event. Kid's baseball games? Church? Family dinner? Neighborhood potluck? PRINT OUT ATTACHED CAMPAIGN FLYER

3. Signs - Let me post a sign on your property, if your home or business in District 8. (E-mail me to get a map of district boundaries.) Are you on a busy street? Call to get a sign: 989-3222

4. Want to meet us to Sign wave early in the morning or late afternoon?

5. DONATE to Friends of Debbie Hecht, P.O. Box 4148, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745. I can qualify for matching dollar for dollar public funding if I get 150 to 210 people at $100. each. All amounts at $100 or less go to helping me to qualify for public funding. MAHALO!

6. Gatherings with family, friends, and neighbors - Are you having folks over? May I attend to speak for 5 minutes, then answer questions, and listen to your concerns?

7. Services –Help with printing, signs, [and] radio and newspaper ads. Any ideas for discounts?

8. Walk your neighborhood with me - I want to meet you and your neighbors and listen to what you would like me to do if I am elected

9. Educate others - Invite me to a meeting of your civic group, neighborhood association or office meeting. Print my campaign material in a newsletter.

10. Ads - Pay for an ad through your business.

11. Encourage people to vote - help with phone calling from September 16th to 20th

12. Get out the vote on primary day- by driving people to the polls and phone calling.

Mahalo!
With warm aloha-
Debbie Hecht
P.O. Box 4148
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
(808) 989-3222

Short Sales are good for some. But WHO? Watch and learn

FDIC, Inddy Mac and One West Bank.  GREED, GREED, GREED.

http://www.youtube.com/user/fiercefreeleancer

This guy built his own island from plastic bottles.

This can save the landfills. build your own island. Really cool. VERY CREATIVE>

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wimp.com%2Fplasticbottles%2F&h=97e5e

West Hawaii Today; Councilman arrested Greenwell

West Hawaii Today - Local > Councilman arrested

Now this is funny. Kelly (Mister I know how!) gets pulled over for speeding and ends up at the jail.
Ok so maybe he was the only one runing for County Council at the time. Not this time.

The canidates so far:
Debbie Hecht
K. Angel Pilago
Kelly Greenwell
and now
Jim Rath

Boy, the list is growing as the unemployment is effectiving all of us.

and the beat goes on......

West Hawaii Today - Local > Mayor's claim of frugality falls flat

West Hawaii Today - Local > Mayor's claim of frugality falls flat

Read the comments for more info. We are in deep kim chee when it comes to our County. READ and weep.

Candidate Debbie Hecht, Hawai'i County Council District 8 North Kona

Debbie Hecht is the best choice here.

Kelly Greenwell is living in a fansty. Wasting tax payer dollars flying to Washington DC, looking for a magic lamp to rub and get money to run the county. He came back empty handed with a nice big bill for the tax payers. The first smart thing he has done is start to work on stopping the tropical fish collecting on the Kona Coast.

K.Angel Pilago did nothing for Kona before, during or after his run for County Council. Never saw him speak up for west hawaii. Was even tempered and always went along with the crowd. No opionion either way. Tried to run for Mayor with no adjenda.  Nice guy but not a doer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEBBIE HECHT
Candidate, Hawai'i County Council District 8 North Kona

Building community, through new ideas for Kona.
TOGETHER we can make a difference!
http://www.dhecht.com/

MY PLEDGE TO YOU: I will represent YOU on the Hawaii County Council. My job is to listen to YOU, to promote legislation and find funding for Kona. I believe in representative government and I want to hear your mana'o.

MY IDEAS:
• Have "talk story" sessions, where I can hear how YOU want me to vote;

• Have educational sessions, where we can learn from the experts;

• Facilitate responsible development, by requiring infrastructure (sewers, roads and parks) before building;

• Fund infrastructure through community facilities districts and use impact fees paid by new residents (see http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=101  for more information;

• Address current infrastructure shortfalls

• Build adequate affordable housing to buy or rent;

• Promote alternative energy and food sustainability

• Increase care for Hawai`i County parks with help from Ohana groups

• Develop an eco-tourism industry, based around the Ala Kahakai Trail; and

• Expand land conservation through the shoreline park from Kailua Village to Kawaihae.

MY VALUES:

• Honesty, integrity and respect for everyone!!

• Working with community groups to achieve win-win solutions.

• Land conservation promotes recreation opportunities for families, clean air, clean oceans and safe drinking water.

• Balance in work, family, community and recreation.

• Caring for the land is caring for the people.



FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ElectHecht2010@gmail.com  ** Phone: 989-3222 ** http://www.dhecht.com/

What issues are most important to you? If I get elected, I will need your help to make decisions. What is your advice? Please call or email. Let's get together.--Debbie

NOT SURE WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN? EMAIL ME FOR A MAP.

VOTE “YES” for the 1% Land Fund and all of the charter amendments introduced by the charter commission

How you can HELP this is a Grassroots effort!

1. Basic Grassroots Strategy - Talk to friends, families and co-workers - Historically 4,000+ voters vote for Council in District 8. Please talk to 20 people in Kona, give themcampaign literature and ask them to vote for me. Then ask them to talk to 20 morepeople to pass on the good word.

2. Signs - Let me post a sign on your property, if your home or business in District 8. (E-mail me to get a map of district boundaries.) Are you on a busy street? Call to get a sign: 989-3222

3. Sign wave

4. DONATE to Friends of Debbie Hecht, P.O. Box 4148, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745. I can qualify for matching dollar for dollar public funding if I get 150 to 210 people at $100. each. All amounts at $100 or less go to helping me to qualify for public funding. MAHALO!

5. Gatherings with family, friends, and neighbors - Are you having folks over? May I attend to speak for 5 minutes, then answer questions, and listen to your concerns?

6. Hand out information –Please hand out campaign information in a public place or at a public event. Kid's baseball games? Church? Family dinner? Neighborhood potluck?

7. Services –Help with printing, signs, [and] radio and newspaper ads. Any ideas for discounts?

8. Walk your neighborhood with me - I want to meet you and your neighbors and listen to what you would like me to do if I am elected

9. Educate others - Invite me to a meeting of your civic group, neighborhood association or office meeting. Print my campaign material in a newsletter.

10. Ads - Pay for an ad through your business.

11. Encourage people to vote - help with phone calling from September 16th to 20th

12. Get out the vote on primary day- by driving people to the polls and phone calling.



FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MY QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE SCROLL DOWN FURTHER or go to: www.dhecht.com

I believe in REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT and that a council member should represent the wishes and needs of the people of the district. I have had experience writing legislation and reviewing budgets as a council aide and community activist. I have a teaching degree, have been an elected board leader, and have run my own business as a licensed real estate broker (AZ) for 35 years, handling land sales/development, apartment sales and property management. I have invested in small apartment buildings, which I remodeled, maintained and kept rented since 1978. I am competent in these areas, but I do not know everything. I will keep you informed on important issues via the Internet and community talk stories. I will ask for your advice.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING DISTRICT 8?

Although development has slowed considerably since the recession, I believe the North Kona District will experience heavy development in the next 5 years. Most estimates predict that 30,000 to 35,000 additional new homes in our area at build out. These are homes that are allowed by approved subdivisions and allowed by present zoning. We need to make sure that infrastructure (roads, streets, sewers, fresh water systems) is in place before new people move in. I believe this will take some well-written, easily understandable legislation that enables concurrency, community facilities districts and impact fees. For more information on these issues go to: http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=101 We need to make sure that new growth follows the guidelines of the Kona Community Development Plan and does not impact existing residents with higher taxes, crowded roads and schools, over used water and sewer systems, or over stretched services like police and fire. I believe it will be important to reach out to other council members and the Mayor's office to work TOGETHER so that existing residents do not pay for new development through increased property taxes.

WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING THE LAST YEAR AND YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE ELECTION?

I’ve been busy working in the community since the last election. The most fun that I’ve had is working with the Kealakehe Girls tennis team as the “A minus team” coach. My teaching degree sure helped, as did my love of the game. It was great fun getting to know these young women and introduce them to tennis.

West Hawaii shoreline Park system I’ve been working with Kelly Greenwell, Walter Kunitake, Melvin Mason, Jerry Halverson, Andy Archibald, County Parks Director Bob Fitzgerald, John Moore, Mike Reimer, Gary Orton, Marni Herkes, Dave Hirt, Bo Kahui, Gary Orton, Fred Cachola, Kristen Konan, Rick Gaffney and other members of the community on a West Hawaii shoreline Park system from Kona to Kawaihae. We are still working on the name of the group. This is a new group and membership is open to the entire community. At this time, the vision of this group is to: “Facilitate and Advocate the Protection, the Preservation, and the Enhancement of Coastal Lands and Waters”. It is a goal of this group to get broad based community support to preserve the coastline [and membership is open to everyone]. It has been discussed that the Ala Kahakai Trail, which is a National Park Service historic trail, should be the backbone or linking element of this park system. The Ala Kahakai Trail system stretches 175 miles from Upolu Point to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Here is a link to the management plan for the Ala Kahakai Trail: http://www.nps.gov/alka/parkmgmt/planning.htm This incredible effort was accomplished by Aric Arikaki, Superintendent of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Rick Gmirkin and Ida Hanohano.



After the election, in December of 2008, I wrote the following letter to the Editor with a plan to use our parks as the basis for An eco-tourism industry: http://www.dhecht.com/wp-admin/page.php?action=edit&post=14 I still believe we can establish an eco-tourism industry and replace some of the jobs that were lost in the construction sector. Money from the 2% Land Fund can be used to acquire Hawaii island’s great places that will be permanent recreation sites for residents and visitors to use. We have to increase the care of our parks. Kapuna Fred Cachola has discussed his long-held dream to have a blue trail (an ocean trail for canoes and kayaks) and a brown trail (for land travel), similar to what Hawaiians used in the past. What a great idea!

After attending a charette with the community last summer for Old Airport Park or Makae’o, we realized that the community wanted this area be a more passive beach park. This plan resulted from a Kona Town Meeting, that I facilitated, which brought together 15 stakeholder groups and Pat Englehart, former Hawai`i County Parks Director, who set aside $500,000 in the budget to plan the park. Click here and scroll down to see the plan: http://www.kailuaparkplan.com/publicmeetings.html

We also realized that we still need an area for active sports and a regional sports park. This regional park could be located on almost 200 acres, just makai of Kealakehe High School. Bo Kahui asked me to be a member of the Kealakehe Park Advisory Committee with Elaine Watai, Hawai`i County Parks Director Bob Fitzgerald, Mapuana Kahanu, Laura Dierenfield, Cathy Sawada, Charlie Nahale, Sue Aronson and Wanneta Wilson. We are trying to understand the past commitments between the County and the State and Kealekehe Associates for this land. This land is now set aside for a golf course and needs to be reclassified through the DLNR Land Board for a sports park.

The Kona Community Tennis and Recreation Association has received a 501(c)3 IRS designation. We will help young tennis players further their education and tennis careers. I am working with Kelly Drysdale, Sandy Caldwell and the West Hawaii District Tennis Association on this issue. There are over 700 dues paying members of the Untied States Tennis Association in West Hawai`i, which does not count junior, casual players or tourists. We need more tennis courts.

I was appointed to the Board of the Hawaii Natural History Association. I am grateful to Fred Cachola for his nomination. I am the secretary for this group. Hawaii Natural History Association (HNHA) www.hawaiinaturalhistory.org is a National Park Service cooperating association, a] nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to support the interpretive, educational, scientific and historic mission of the National Park Service. Proceeds from the sale of educational items in park visitor centers and on this website are returned directly to the Park Service to support interpretive programs, research projects, museum activities, free publications, cultural demonstrations, and other related activities. We work with staff at the following parks to fund special programs and projects: Kaloko Honokohau, Pu`uhonua O’ Honaunau, Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes National, Pu‘ukoholä Heiau and the National Park of Samoa.

The Land Fund: The Charter Commission is on track to submit a not less than 1% Land Fund charter amendment to the voters in November. We proposed that the Land Fund become a charter amendment to get the Land Fund deposits out of the yearly budget wrangling. Please support this measure. In the future we hope we can get it raised to 2%, to honor the amount that 63% of voters approved in 2006.

Charter Amendments proposed to the Charter Commission: I wrote and submitted several charter amendments to the Charter Commission and lobbied for their consideration, but they did NOT pass:

1. The 2% Land Fund amendment. Because charter articles can only be changed by voters, this would have prevented the County Council or Mayor from suspending deposits to the fund. ALL other Hawaii counties have passed charter amendments to protect their open space funds.

2. An amendment regarding the Recall of Elected Officials - a re-write of this charter section. I collaborated with Council member Brenda Ford.

3. An amendment regarding How to Fill Vacancies if elected officials die, resign, are recalled or impeached. Right now, if the Mayor resigns or dies, the Deputy Director fills the post. If the Prosecuting Attorney's post is vacant, the Deputy Director fills the post. If a council position is vacant, the majority of the council appoints someone to finish the term, which strengthens the majority. My proposed amendment called for an election, if the time remaining was [for] more than 6 months.

4. An amendment regarding How People are Appointed to Boards and Commissions. Currently they are appointed by the Mayor. This amendment proposed that council members propose appointees.

5. Working as a member of the League of Women Voters, with Sue Dursin and Marian Wilkins, we revised Article XV regarding Amending the Charter.

For additional information on my volunteer work for Hawai`i Island, go to www.dhecht.com

Mahalo!

Debbie

-- Debbie Hecht
P.O. Box 4148
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
(808) 989-3222

A Molokai crab. Could feed an army.

The Oil has STOPPED Flowing in the Gulf! What a RELIEF..

After 80+ days of thousands and thousands of barrels of oil pouring out into the Gulf of Mexico; British Petroleum has finally got the well under control.

Now what to do with this HUGE OIL slick miles long and deep. Hire every boat they can find and capture it before any storms hit. It is a race against time to get control of the oil in the water.

Sure hope President Obama  makes the Oil industry accountable for all the wells that are currently out there with shoddy practices. The Oil companies are so worried about money that they forget about how fragile our environment  really is. Let's have a full investigation and charge them so much that they won't pull this stunt again.

Do we really need to drill in over a mile of water where we have no control of it? Let's start waking up and realizing that we are destroying ourselves and our planet. Hopefully there will be more generations to come.

Coqui Frogs in Coastview. A letter from a neighbor

I recently eradicated my coqui frog with a heavy dose of lemon juice in a spray container, used coffee grounds spread around the base of their tree and a direct hit of boric acid power (cockroach stuff). Please attack yours too. We don't want Kona to sound like Hilo. Coqui's only jump forward not backwards and the noisy ones are males. Here's a number of Brian (?) he catchs them and charges by the hour. 895-8753
Signed you neighbor (?)
I can't wander into your yard to find the coqui.

Vote for Democrates (only) that can make a Difference in Congress!

Anyone in Congress that is a republican should be kicked out. They blocked every attempt to right our Nation. We don’t need to be reminded that the Republicans came into office with a HUGE surplus, and when they left we were on the brink of disaster. 2 wars, deregulating of the financial institutions, Bush taxs cuts for the Super rich…. And more.

Let's think back some 60 years ago.. It was the democrats that fought for Social Security. The Republicans cried socialism. Re-think your history and see where we are going. It is the future of our children that is at risk.
My hat is off to Obama for taking on such a huge challenge.
He has passed health care, women’s equal pay, and on and on….
With NO help from the Republican's.
It is congress (republicans specifically) that have voted against all bills put forward. The republicans were pro imigration legislation until Obama got in office and now there is no support.

So think twice, and look to the (d) democrat when you vote next election.
Time to clean house and get the do nothings out.

New Solar Energy fees by Director of business, economic development, tourism?

Yesterday I went to my Real Estate continuing education class to learn about the new changes to Hawaii laws that just passed July 1st. There was one that was quite shocking and disturbing. Read and see if you agree.


SOLAR ENERGY: ENERGY EFFICIENCY- SB 2563 SD 1 HD 2 CD 1

HCEI; Solar Water Heater Systems; Alternate Fuels Standards

Description:
Authorizes the director of business, economic development, and tourism to impose and collect fees for the administration of the solar water heater system variances. Sets the goal of using alternative fuels to meet 30 per cent of highway fuel demand by2030. (CD1)

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2563

Requires the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) to IMPOSE and COLLECT FEES for ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM FOR NEW RESIDENCES PROGRAM, deposit those fees into an energy security special fund and set goals for using alternative fuels to meet 30% of highway fuel demand by 2030. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2010.

This measure will assist DBEDT with administering the program requiring solar water heater systems for new single-family residences. Permitting the department to impose and collect fees to cover the cost of the variance application process will support the program and significantly enhance the effectiveness of the statewide strategy to promote renewable energy, particularly with respect to residential solar water heater systems, which are a major component I the strategy.

Also, the legislature found that to achieve the 2030 goal of 30% alternate fuel standards requires the State to facilitate the development and support attainment of a statewide alternate fuel standard of 10% of highway fuel by 2010, 15% by 2015, and 20% by 2020.

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Am I missing something here or are we trying to discourage people from building solar??? The DBEDT is going to build MONEY for alternative fuel demand on the backs of the new home owners? I thought we wanted to encourage ALL to get solar and use less fuel. But apparently not if they are going to charge fees for building solar!

Currently Hawaii Island have 65% oil and the rest in alternative energies, wind, solar, etc… but the residents of the Big Island are not receiving any break regardless of where or how the energy is produced. We are paying as though we are importing every dime from the middle east. Hawaii is now encouraging people to go and build somewhere else that wants your business. Because our law makers are only about saddeling the public with new fees rather than looking for ways to increase our alternative fuel usage. God Help us.

The Best Mayor in the World. What can we learn from her?

http://www.wimp.com/citymayor

Calling all: Mayor, County councilpersons, All elected officials.... Watch and Learn.

Balancing a budget and planning wisely can be done.