Debbie Hecht Loses District 8

Aloha Kona friends,
These last two days have been confusing as to the election results because of conflicting reports. I recently got this information from Ken Goodenow, County Clerk as to how the results are figured. Since blank ballots are not included in the final tally, Angel Pilago won the primary with 51.1% of the vote (see the actual part of the charter that addresses this below).

A heartfelt mahalo for everyone who worked on my campaign and took time to tell me their concerns about our quality of life in West Hawaii. Mahalo for considering me to represent you as your council member.

THREE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

THE 2012-2013 BUDGET: I hope Mr. Pilago will consider requesting the following budget items BEFORE the Mayor designs the budget so that they can be included in the 2011-2012 budget for District 8-North Kona. These were projects that you told me were important to you.

1.Open existing bathrooms or build new bathrooms near the police station at Hale Halewai

2. Open the parking lot at Hale Halewai for use by residents and tourists

3. Look into using portions of the parking lots at Lowe's and/or K-Mart for park and ride stops for the island wide bus system AND

4. Obtain two small buses circulating from the park and ride stops along Ali'i from the King Kamehameha Hotel to Huggo's, with a stop at the Regency to ease parking and congestion on Ali'i Drive

5. Pave Kaiminani

SHORELINE PARK: Would you be interesting in working to obtain a 2,000 foot setback on state lands from Kailua to Kawaihae to create a shoreline park? We can protect the Ala Kalakai Trail (The King's Trail) and possibly build a parallel trail for recreation and exercise. This supports the Kona Community Development Plan. We may be circulating a petition to lobby the state.

For more information go to: http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=14


CHARTER AMENDMENTS: We will be starting a big push to pass the following new or amended charter amendments: The League of Women Voters has done a terrific job on writing the educational piece with the Charter Commission. We need to raise money to buy signs for the 1% Land Fund and educate the public.

1. 1% land fund

2. Recall

3. Revising the charter

4. Reapportionment

5. Preservation of Natural and Cultural Resources

6. WATCH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE COMING WEEKS



A hui hou!
Debbie
989-3222
http://www.dhecht.com/

Hawaii County Charter- Section 13-27. County Election.

(a) No person shall be a candidate for more than one elective office in the same election. If no person is elected to a county office, the county council shall appoint a person to fill such office. County elections shall be conducted in accordance with the election laws of the state insofar as applicable.

(b) All county elective officers--mayor, council members and prosecuting attorney-- shall be elected in nonpartisan special elections. Such special elections shall be held with the primary and general elections of the applicable year.

(c) First special election. The first special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled primary election. Any candidate for mayor, prosecuting attorney or council receiving a majority of all votes validly cast for candidates for that office, excluding blank and spoiled ballots, shall be deemed elected. If there is only one candidate for the office, that candidate shall be deemed elected regardless of the number of votes received.

(d) Second special election. The second special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled general election. Unless a candidate has been elected in the first special election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the office in question in the first special election shall be placed on the ballot for the second special election. At the second special election the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each respective office shall be deemed elected.

Brittany Smart district 6 Let's go!

Aloha e,


Please check out this excellent Youtube interview with Brittany Smart…she REALLY IS akamai. What a great young lady for the county council!

1 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IENp7Qj0w&feature=related

2 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBQOTKVNsA8&feature=related

3 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYaKNLxdbgg

FROM BRITTANY SMART…

Aloha Friends, Supporters, and District 6 Residents:
Thank you for your generous support of my campaign. Please help spread the word that I came in first for Hawaii County Council’s District 6 seat in the Primary Election on September 18!

This is a very exciting time for the campaign and we feel that the momentum is on our side, but the race won’t be won until the General Election on Tuesday, November 2. I am humbly asking each and everyone of you for your continued support of my campaign. If you would like yard signs, respond to smartforcouncil@gmail.com  with your physical address and the number of signs you want and we will have volunteers drop them off. Please remind your friends and family to vote as well.

If everyone would encourage two or more of your friends, family or neighbors to vote, we can win this. The last day to register to vote in the General Elections is OCTOBER 4, 2010. Click on the link below to download the information and application from the State of Hawaii’s Office of Elections.

http://hawaii.gov/elections/voters/registration.htm

And please check out my website to view more about me and the campaign at SmartForCouncil.org.

Mahalo nui loa for all your support,

Brittany Smart
Candidate for County Council, District 6

Paid for by the Friends of Brittany Smart, Brittany Smart Treasurer, PO Box 7151, Hilo, HI 96720
smartforcouncil.org    • 989-6110

Microwave ovens ARE NOT SAFE.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/microwave-cancer_b_684662.html

Read this and get rid of your microwave.

Hand Beaded Humuhumunukapua Fish

A straight talking polition. How Refreshing!

I hope this guy runs for president!!!!

I love this guy. He tells it like it is and does not pander to any group or individual. He is the kind of guy we need in the White House. This video is a classic and worth watching. It’s little long but this guy is unbelievable.

http://www.breitbart.tv/nj-gov-christie-delivers-brilliant-laceration-of-teachers-union/

sumbitted by Tom Pyne.

Emily McGeachy Judging Horse Show this Weekend in Billings, Montana

Emily McGeachy graduated Rocky Mountain College May this year with a Business Degree in Equestrian. She will be juding this weekend for Rocky Mountain College Horse Show. Attached is the local newspaper.
Great Job Emily!

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_6a7ad4c2-c1c7-11df-a2b1-001cc4c002e0.html

My Personal Choices:

My choices are based on Education, Experience, and actual past Accomplishments.

These are the Best Choices for Hawaii and Hawaii County. We are looking for People to represent all of us as ONE ISLAND, weather it is Honolulu including Kona or Hilo including Kona. We need people with enough (college) Education to now how to problem solve and write and vote on solutions. No more Ol'e boys lined up in Hilo voting against Kona (the cash cow). We need solution minded people.

Dan InouyeSenator
Neil Ambercrombie Governor
Brian Schatz- Lt. Govenor

Pete Hoffman- District 9

Debbie Hecht- District 8

Brenda Ford- District 7
Maegan MacGregor District 7 State House 

Brittany Smart- District 6
Denny Coffman- District 6 State House

James Weatherford-District 5
Fred Fogel- District 5 State House

Anthony Marzi-District 4 State House

Cliff Tsuji-District 3

Sammye-Ann Young-District 2
Mazie Hirono- District 2 State House

Mark Nakashima-District 1

Brenda Ford District 7 Needs your Vote

Aloha Friends and Voters,

I appreciate the trust you have placed in me these past 3.5 years. I was an advocate for the community for 10 years before I was elected to office, serving with the American Red Cross (Disaster Action Team), Neighborhood Watch (Coordinator), Kona Orchid Society (former Director and Secretary), personally went to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an illegal redistricting plan (case not heard), worked collaboratively to design the La'aloa Street Extension, and testified many times before the Planning Commission and the County Council - all before I was elected.

Most of us want to stop the backdoor dealings in government, but there are powerful forces trying to unseat me as a Council Member and continue the Hilo-centric power structure. My opponent has no experience with County issues, and I have never seen my opponent testify before the Council on any issue in the almost four years that I have served. He stated that he will “cooperate” with the Hilo council members, which has been proven in the past to be to our disadvantage. Being civil and respectful is appropriate, and I continue to act in a civil and respectful manner despite the frequent attacks on me personally. However, if “cooperation” means rubber-stamping the Administration or the Hilo-centric majority's continuing view that West Hawai'i should send as many tax dollars to Hilo as possible and then keep quiet, it won't work!

As you undoubtedly know, I am fiscally conservative which is why I voted against the Mayor's budget and the real property tax increase that was so discriminatory against West Hawai'i, farmers, owners of rental property, and the renters themselves. We needed to cut the budget, not raise taxes. I've received many calls from around the island from distraught taxpayers since they received their tax bills and saw the increases in this difficult economic time.

I have been told that my opponent has copied my campaign platform rather than be completely truthful about his real motivations for running against me in District 7. My platform is simple - I work for the people of District 7 to fix and improve the infrastructure (roads, a new fire station in Keauhou, non-salty drinking water, etc.), protect the environment, get more police officers in Kona and a new Captain Cook police station to reduce crime, reduce the drug problem, get drunk drivers to stop driving under the influence of alcohol and killing or maiming our people, promote open and transparent government, require concurrency of infrastructure in development, and increase jobs. If those issues label me as "liberal", so be it. That's what District 7 wants, and I will support it.

District 7 is a complex district of various people, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, social and economic mixes, and many great religious groups. I absolutely believe in the U.S. Constitution that there is a "separation of church and state" and equality for everyone. I treat everyone equally and do not favor any group no matter what the basis of the "group" is.

Walk-in voting started on September 3rd at the Office of Elections at the intersection of Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Street. For District 7, the election is going to be decided in the Primary on Saturday, September 18th. Be sure to vote and ask your friends and neighbors to vote. District 7 is on the back of the ballot, so please turn the ballot over and vote for District 7.

My radio ads begin this week, and my sign waving continues. Please forward this email to your friends. We all deserve to have good, honest, open government. That is what I will support. I respectfully ask for your vote.

Mahalo for your support.

Brenda Ford

p.s. A list of some of my accomplishments follows

BRENDA'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TAX AND BUDGET: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Voted against a property tax increase.

• Supported 3% cap on property tax increases.

• Supported furloughs rather than layoffs for County employees.

• Voted against a 22% salary increase for Council members.

SAFETY: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Initiated legislation for a Captain Cook Police station for better police protection.

• Opposed building in flood-prone areas.

• Supported safer road improvements such as the repairs at Napoopoo junction.

• Supported upgrading the flood plain code.

HEALTH AND WELFARE: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Supported opening Mamalahoa bypass road both ways for 12 hours per day.

• Supported banning GMO taro and coffee on our island.

• Provided contingency funds toward West Hawai'i Community Health Center- Keiki Clinic.

• Provided contingency funds toward mobile dental services.

• Provided contingency funds to improve West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery (12 flag poles).

• Worked with a coalition and the West Hawai'i Community Health Center to bring the Ohio 178th Air National Guard Medical Group to provide free medical and dental services.

OPEN AND BETTER GOVERNMENT: Addressed many issues, such as:

• Supported strengthening ethics codes.

• Introduced vote by mail resolution to the State.

• Initiated multiple Charter amendments to go before the voters.

• Initiated Charter amendment for funding the office of the independent auditor.

• Supported a separate Planning Commission for West Hawaii.

• Support Open and Transparent Government.


BRENDA’S GOALS FOR UPCOMING COUNCIL TERM

ROADS:

• Continue to upgrade road conditions and add roadways where needed.

• Reduce traffic congestion by completing La’aloa Street Extension, Lako Street Extension, and creating more interconnecting roads.

• Finish the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass road.

• Add synchronized traffic signal lights to Ali’i Drive to improve traffic flow.



POLICE SERVICES:

• Build the South Kona Police Station in Captain Cook. The land is already purchased and the design and engineering process is underway.

• Supported remodeling of the substation to add a kitchen and improved barracks.

• Support a 24/7 staffing of the Captain Cook Police Station with officers and administrators.

• Support more officers on duty on all shifts.

• Support Neighborhood Watch to aid the police.



TRANSPORTATION:

• More bus routes in West Hawai’i.

• Support federal funds for buses using alternative fuel sources (hydrogen, anhydrous ammonia, etc.).

FIRE SERVICES:

• Support building a new fire station in Keauhou.

• Get more equipment and add appropriate emergency vehicles to all stations including the volunteer stations.



CONCURRENCY:

• Expand concurrency to include parks, fire stations, police stations, etc.

• Require infrastructure to be in place before subdivisions are finished.

• Reduce burden on taxpayers subsidizing development’s infrastructure.



KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

• Enforce the Kona Community Development Plan in all County planning decisions. This assures that future development is in compliance with the intent of the majority of Kona citizens.



IMPACT FEES:

 • Support impact fees to fund new infrastructure

 • Stop illegal “fair share” fees



PARKS & RECREATION:

• Create more bike and walking paths.

• Add more parks to West Hawaii.

• Support Ali’i Drive as a Scenic Byway with more access to shoreline.



AGRICULTURE:

• Support Kona Community Development Plan to protect agricultural lands.

• Support efforts toward 100% Kona coffee branding.

• Support Country Of Origin Labeling (“COOL”).

• Support Truth-in-Labeling for agricultural products.

West Hawaii Today endorses Debbie Hecht for District 8

A big Mahalo to West Hawaii Today for their endorsement of my candidacy for County council District 8. It means a lot to have the support of intelligent people who care about our community!


Quoted directly from Sunday's paper on the editorial page:

"Voters in Hawaii County Council District 8 should weigh the past two years carefully and consider who has been active and visible and in what regard. Only one person has shown dedication to the community and issues it has embraced and as such only one deserves our endorsement: Debbie Hecht. She was the architect and catalyst behind the 2 percent land fund approved by voters and later disemboweled by Mayor Billy Kenoi and his enabling cohorts on the council. Hecht was right there fighting to keep it alive, and to keep some form of public land fund viable for the county. She comes from a business background yet holds a keen sense of community and environmental values that would serve her district and the island well."



*****************SEE ATTACHED CAMPAIGN FLYER*************

Can you support our campaign too?

The Elect Hecht campaign appreciates your support:

Can you help with Sign waving? walk your neighborhood with Debbie? donate? to P.O. Box 4148, Kailua Kona, HI 96745. I am a publicly funded candidate, your donation of $100. or less goes to get dollar for dollar matching funds AND is tax deductible.

Warm aloha!
Debbie

3 SOURCES FOR VOTER INFORMATION

1. Big ISLAND CHRONICLE voters guide:

http://www.bigislandchronicle.com/?p=16883#comments
2. West Hawaii Today has their voter's guide Sunday, September 12th Newspaper.

3. League of Women Voters has a great website for candidate information, includign Board of Education candidates, Click here: http://www.lwv-hawaii.com/candidates.htm

WALK IN VOTING NOW at the Elections office at Kuakini and Hualalai on the north makai corner across from Dixsons's 76.


VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.
--

Debbie Hecht, Candidate for Hawai'i County Council District 8

http://www.dhecht.com/ For articles that appeared in West Hawaii Today, complete resume and current projects.
(808) 989-3222


Not sure if you are registered?
Call Elections- 961-8277
Haven't registered to to my website (above) and click on register to vote in the right hand column.

September 11th Changed the World forever! We will never forget.

We will never forget.

Our lives have been changed forever.

Travel internationally will never be the same.

Our trust in all men has been shaken.

We are a resilant people and will work through it but we will never be the same.

God Bless America!

Who did the Kona Coastview Water system???

Let’s get the story straight.


After Joe Fagundas’sattempted to do the water without success, I stepped in and organized the neighborhood. No we don’t have a homeowners association so It was by mailing, calling and setting up email correspondence so we can work together. My help researching and putting this project together came from Bonnie Goodell of Volcano. She was my first point of guidance. She came out and walked the subdivision and worked on solutions. I could talk to her and trouble shoot.

My core group was Contractor David Livingston, Jim Williams, Margaret Marceron, Julian and Karen Silva, Jake Jacobs. David wanted a private system but we needed the Federal funding in order to do it and the County fought for a deductible system and it had to be their design. We had an engineer do his Masters degree on our system for ¼ the cost of the county system. The water from the Mamalahoa crashing down the hill ran the entire system without any power (OIL), It had metal tanks and heavy duty PVC type of pipe (they have been using over the past 2 decades, due to iron pipes breaking down and leaching shards of iron into the water system. The research showed Concrete tanks were NEVER used in a seismic area due to cracking and huge maintenance and repairs). The County wanted the concrete tanks and iron pipes, and the county was the only one that could sign for the USDA Federal Funding (Clinton Water 2000), (I found calling Washington D.C.).

The original thought was to complete a fire station at the same time as the water system so our homeowners insurance would go down (within 5 miles of a fire station) and cover the $65.00 cost of the new system. The Matsumoto water company was in the rears for our water for more than a decade. Harry Kim and Curtis Tyler signed a contract to get 1 acre of Matsumoto’s land (between Palisades and Coastview) for the fire station. Due to the lack of follow up from both Harry and Curtis we lost the land because the contract they signed stated the County had one year to survey the land. They failed to do it and it was sold to Bolton.

Then comes time for the County to offer their design and it comes in at over $16,000.00 a lot. We knew people couldn’t afford it if it was over $10,000.00. So we found Attorney Alan Tuhy to work pro bono. He told me to order the Kona Coastview subdivision file from Hilo through the County building department. 2 weeks later it comes in and the file is almost 4 inches thick. I was told it is .10 per copy, so I had a $20.00 in my purse and just starting copying away. I took all my copies to Alan and he began looking through it and asked if I could order the whole file again so he could come down and review it. The file comes back form Hilo and now it is less than ½ inch. It lost weight between Hilo and Kona??? Go figure. By the grace of God I had copied the County dedication of the roads dated 1963. But when the file came back that was gone! So the water department had to redo the figures and take out the $860,000.00 they were charging for the cost of our roads. Then the figures came back under $10,000.00 per lot.

Harry and the water department failed to add all the of costs in the Water Improvement (add in meters and hook up into the USDA funding) so when it came time to hook up we had up charges ( in the thousands) of a new meter, water pipes (and standards to hook up? None provided and what about those that couldn’t afford it?.) We had a meeting with at my house with plumbers, back hoe operators, and George Wilkins (water board volunteer), no I didn’t see Harry, or Angel there. I fielded call after call asking what are the standards to hook up? What if I can’t afford it??????? I helped dig holes and find pipes to give those that couldn’t afford it. No Angel wasn’t there.

After all that work do you think the County (Angel at the time) would step in and help those in need. NO he was not there. Finally I had it. I was exhausted, not being paid for hours and hours of work and I told people to call your county council man (Angel) and let him do the job he is being paid to do. Then and Only then did Angel’s office field the calls (Karen Eoff). As I said before Angel was not there in the time of need for his constituents. For him to claim he did the water system in Kona Coastview is laughable.

Susan McGeachy

West Hawaii Today - Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > Politician responds

West Hawaii Today - Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > Politician responds

Jim Rath responds to my letter to the editor. Regarding Politicians claiming credit when they were never there.
Thank you Jim I really appreciate this.