In one of his final acts as Kaua’i County Council member, Billy Swain voted with the council majority to approve an update of the county’s General Plan. Referring to criticism from some quarters that the changes don’t reflect the will
In one of his final acts as Kaua’i County Council member, Billy Swain voted with the council majority to approve an update of the county’s General Plan.
Referring to criticism from some quarters that the changes don’t reflect the will of the people, he said, “I don’t believe anyone has been disenfranchised by what we’ve done here.” He’s right. The plan update took three years to make its way through reviews by a citizen advisory committee, the county Planning Commission and the council. During that time, there were numerous opportunities for citizens to be heard on Chapter 7 changes regarding land-use and related issues. Undoubtedly there are people who don’t like the new provisions. Rare, if not impossible, is the government action that is universally popular. Common, however, are people who simply refuse to accept that they can’t always have their way.
Swain had to accept that fact when he lost his re-election bid last month. If, when the next council election rolls around two years from now, enough voters are dissatisfied with the way Kaua’i is growing as a result of the council’s handling of the General Plan, they can voice their displeasure at the polls. In the meantime, they can turn their attention to how the plan’s guidelines are carried out.
