LIHUE — Incumbent Mason Chock, 47, of Wailua, has filed for reelection to the Kauai County Council.
“I believe I have and can continue to model the leadership behaviors that are needed in government, to build capacity and continuity within its system and in turn serve the people’s needs and their requests more effectively,” Chock said.
During the last four years Chock has served on the council, he said he’s been able to lead by contributing stability to the council and county budget while securing funds to begin construction on road and bridge improvements that have been overlooked throughout the years.
“My hope is to help transition and prepare our government to reestablish itself as a system that values people and places that were once honored and respected, before foreign mindsets and influences infiltrated it,” he said.
Chock said he was able to work well with his colleagues and the system, by introducing and passing many measures, including islandwide additional rental units to encourage affordable housing development, a resolution recognizing and legitimizing the Native Hawaiian Independence Day, and a farm worker housing amendment to support the success of local farmers.
In addition, he’s also worked to make sure open spaces are secured for the next administration to implement.
“Most of all, I’m proud to always respond to our public’s needs and provide avenues for their voice to be heard in our government process,” he said.
If elected, Chock said he will continue to bring balance to discussions around the table and to always provide collaboration toward problem solving issues, standing strong for the highest priorities to “represent who we are in this place we call home.”
“There is much more improvement that can be done with traffic mitigation, houseless needs, increasing new economic development opportunities that match our island, wastewater upgrades transitioning cesspools out and protection of our environment that I want to continue to build on,” Chock said.
Throughout his service, Chock said he did not support raising salaries for appointed department heads, deputies or councilmembers, raising property taxes for the homestead, residential, agriculture or commercial tax classes, the resolution to repeal councilmember term limits and agriculture designation in the General Plan update.
Several of Kauai’s issues Chock said he is concerned about are the balance of growth with public infrastructure for both visitors and residents that encompass housing, transportation, roads and preservation of Kauai’s environment, development of more effective government processes, including leadership competency and eliminating bureaucracy and effective community engagement that is inclusive.
“With ke akua’s blessing and your kokua, I humbly ask for your support in re-electing me to the Kauai County Council, so I can fulfill kuleana hat has been presented to me,” Chock said.
