HILO — The three leading mayoral candidates held a largely cordial discussion about county priorities Thursday evening during their first major forum of the campaign season.
The event, held at Sangha Hall in downtown Hilo, was sponsored by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Island Realtors, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hawaii Island Contractors Association and the Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association. The questions were determined by the sponsoring organizations and moderated by island radio personality Sherry Bracken.
The candidates next meet Monday evening at Kealakehe High School.
Harry Kim, 72, was mayor from 2000 through 2008. Billy Kenoi, 43, won election in 2008 and is seeking his second term as mayor. Dominic Yagong, 52, is currently chairman of the Hawaii County Council. Kim and Kenoi have worked full-time in government most of their professional lives, while Yagong comes from the private sector as a regional manager of a grocery store chain, while also serving 12 years on the County Council.
As expected, Kenoi touted his work during his first term, during what he said have been the four toughest economic years in the county’s history. He listed job creation through capital improvement projects, continuing to hold the line on costs and promoting renewable energy. He emphasized tourism as an economic driver.
“The $365 million budget we submitted continued to reduce the size and cost of government,” Kenoi said. “The bond rating agencies affirmed our excellent credit ratings. … We made the tough decisions. … It is a good budget.”
Kim said he decided to run again because of his concern with the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots. He said government needs to help create jobs to deal with the growing homelessness problem. He also touted free bus fares as a cost-saving measure to help people get to their jobs.
“We need to focus on our core responsibilities and make it an attractive place for businesses to move here, for doctors too move here,” Kim said.
Yagong pushed for public-private partnerships that would employ residents while not burdening government with more costs.
“Our county government is evolving and for us to evolve with it, we do need change, and I want to bring that change,” Yagong said.
All three candidates said the county needs to find new technology to deal with the growing rubbish problem. County residents generate 532 tons of garbage a day, and the Hilo landfill has perhaps five years left.
Yagong, however, believes the county should expand the Hilo landfill in the short term, so the county doesn’t have its back against the wall and has more bargaining power with private sector waste reduction technology companies.
“If we expand the landfill, it gives us power. It gives us options,” Yagong said.
Kenoi and Kim held fast to their stance that a landfill would be hard to get permitted, and it would be a costly solution, even for the short term.
“A landfill is the worst thing you can do to the environment, and we have to look at alternatives,” Kim said.
“If we expand our landfill, everybody’s going to pay for it,” Kenoi said.
The only issue over which any of the candidates butted heads was the issue of future health care costs for retirees, known as GASB 45, that Kenoi deferred in his past two budgets. Yagong thinks the bill should be paid each year, and he sponsored legislation to make it happen automatically, if there is money left over at the end of the budget year.
Kenoi bristled at the legislation and said no actuary in the entire nation supports it. Yagong responded he’d talked to plenty of accountants in Hilo who thought it was a good idea.
All three candidates assured the large audience they’re in it for the long term and wouldn’t leave the job in the middle of the term for health reasons, to run for another office or to pursue other business opportunities.
Other candidates in the mayoral race are Share Christie, Daniel Cunningham and Rand “Baker Tom” Walls.