LIHUE — A career of service to children and families has led Koloa resident Norma Doctor Sparks to throw in her bid for County Council.
This isn’t the first time she’s run for the office, but Doctor Sparks said she’s running again because she believes she can translate her career in law and public service to benefit Kauai.
“I have decided to run for Kauai County Council again because I continue to be concerned about Kauai and all of our people, both those born here and those who choose to live here,” Doctor Sparks said.
Doctor Sparks ran for county council in 2016 and finished out of the top seven, receiving 6,911 votes.
Doctor Sparks said she will work to achieve a transparent and accountable government, a fiscally responsible government, improved services without loss of services or personnel, protection of the environment and no new taxes.
For most of her career, Doctor Sparks has focused on serving children and families.
“I want to ensure that the children, youth, and families on Kauai are provided the support and resources for what they need and what they hope for,” Doctor Sparks said. “Children should be able to live, work and buy a house on Kauai.”
A former deputy attorney general for the state of Hawaii, Doctor Sparks, who graduated from Kauai High School, started her career as a social worker, eventually earning her law degree.
“I will use my deputy attorney general experience to consider consequences and legality of Council actions,” Doctor Sparks said. “My director of large public agencies experiences to manage the county’s budget and activities; and my social worker experience to address Kauai’s social conditions.”
With family roots in the sugar plantation industry, Doctor Sparks said education is important because it is a great equalizer that can lift families out of poverty.
Currently serving on the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii, Doctor Sparks said, “I want to help our young people receive the support and resources so that anyone who wants to continue their education after high school, will be able to do so.”
One way she’s ensuring this is through her new nonprofit organization called Teen College Inc., that will mentor and encourage students to pursue a college education.
Keeping Kauai’s environment as pristine as it was when she grew up here is important to Doctor Sparks, who believes in balancing economic and environmental needs. She also hopes to advocate through education and outreach programs alternate waste disposal methods.
Homelessness on Kauai is also a concern for Doctor Sparks.
“The county should facilitate a ‘Housing First’ program that requires participation and agreement to achieve common goals by law enforcement, rental property owners, poverty programs, and employers,” she said. “Priority is given to identifying resources to re-house families with children and veterans first temporarily and then permanently as quickly as possible.”
“I’m comfortable with administrative law and I feel I can provide some of those services here,” Doctor Sparks said. “I really understand government spending and priorities and I don’t feel like the council always focuses on the right priorities.”
Yeah? Day job. I didn’t mean it. Coach Rolo…Uh funds.
We need a real M.D. like this on council. Doctors are critical thinkers and will be as great help for mayor doo
Please don’t run! You sound like nothing more than yet another Liberal/Socialist sycophant trying to suck off the American tax payer while trying to appear relevant in your philosophical sea of incompetence.
Simple, in math it is called limits. That point x, on the cartisian graph is open and discontinued. Not exist.
Ige
Hanabusa
Hee
IS THE DEMOCRATS FOR GOVERNOR.
How do you feel about the State budget on areas of GET and their cut on financing? 0.5% tax hike
Aloha Norma… Met you at the fair last time you ran. Unfortunately, getting on the council means how big is your family and friends portfolio not what you know or what you can do for the betterment of management for the council. If you were being hired instead of elected for the popularity contest your resume would be a contender to the county administration. It’s pretty sad that we have well educated professional people who will never get on the council because of the issues surrounding the popularity contest elections.
So this article doesn’t really explain what she is. Is she an M.D., hold a PHD, or did she just giver herself a title like a middle name “Doctor” so people think she is qualified to save the world from itself. Article states that she started her career as a social worker and ended it with her earning a mystery law degree. This is a poorly written article with no real facts. Might as well been written by herself in her bid for council. Thanks again for a worthless read.
I think her last name is Doctor-Sparks, is that right?