A look at mayor, council races
A look at mayor, council races
For the benefit of those voters new to Kauai, in the election of mayor, I would like to suggest that anyone who is considering a vote for Mel Rapozo, read the book, “KPD Blue” and see if Mel has the character of someone we want to lead our county. It’s true, he has a “lifetime” of county service, but some of it leaves much to be desired.
Another mayoral candidate who deserves more vetting is Derek Kawakami, who was/is a big supporter of an industrial dairy in Mahaulepu, Poipu.
Aside from the negative impact of a huge dairy in the midst of a major tourist destination, the environmental devastation that would be caused by cow waste product run off to the ocean and pollution of natural springs, one has to ask what motivates Derek’s support of the dairy. Is it his support of huge developers like Grove Farm? If we want to “keep Kauai, Kauai,” Derek is probably not our guy.
I would suggest that if you want someone who has actually made hugely positive contributions to Kauai, JoAnn Yukimura is our best choice for mayor. JoAnn made the bus system a reality as well as starting the Sunshine (farmers’) Markets. She also led the county through a very difficult time after Hurricane Iniki.
As for the council, after attending three of the council forums, my top picks would be Felicia Cowden, Adam Roversi, Norma Doctor Sparks, Mason Chock, Luke Evslin and Juno Apalla. There is so much negativity on our current council. I would suggest that with the exception of Mason Chock we need slate a clean!
Judie Hoeppner, Lihue
Good analysis. I see you’ve been watching cable tv. But in introspect, an analysis to this would be how your car radio system operates. If you wanted clearer louder sounds, adding subwoofers would do the trick. A neat product that does the same work as an amplifier. Using different setups or features of the radios. In other words, a different brand product of car stereo already exist in place. More options to choose from.
Like I’ll take my political advice from a South Park “kamaiana” who’s been here 20 min. longer than the folks she’s preaching to.
Dear Ms. Hoeppner, please brace yourself for a flood of online and LTE responses to your own LTE. Although we have never to my knowledge met, and I do not know you, we are very much aligned in our choices of candidates for Mayor and Council. Congratulations on your forethought and suggestions.
You are spot-on in observing the shortcomings of Mr. Rapozo, whose antics as a police sergeant in charge of a cellblock cost we taxpayers a ton of money settling a civil case brought by accused prostitute, accused cocaine addict and dealer, and subsequent murderer Monica Alves. That is not to mention his authoritarian, heavy handed leadership of County Council business as Council Chair.
Mr. Kawakami represents a far-better choice but, as you mention, his advocacy of a questionable dairy location and cheerleading of all things Grove Farm have me wondering exactly whose pocket he is in.
Joanne has the best interest of the general public at heart and has had vast experience in the leadership role. She will be criticized for her handling the crisis posed by Hurricane Iniki and her advocacy for bike paths and affordable housing and Sunshine Markets (which I feel could be re-vamped to more easily accept added-value products) but I feel that she has done a fine job in most instances and deserves the office of Mayor.
The Council needs badly to be shaken up, and positions filled with those who have the interests of all the electorate in mind and the youth and vigor to see their policies become reality, with Mason Chock at the helm as Council Chair. We no longer need the services of Councilmen who serve their donors/employers (Kaneshiro and Brun) and who have blatantly espoused racist rhetoric (Kagawa).
So here is to you, Ms. Hoeppner, and your choices. I am hoping they become a reality.
It’s important for Kauai residents to get out there and vote in order to cancel out the votes of gullible transplants like Judy Hoepner, who gets info from a poorly written and exaggerated book that was authored by another transplant with a chip his shoulder.
Judie, Thanks, but NO THANKS. Everyone has an opinion, although yours is really misplaced, I, nor my family will ever vote for anyone that you have mentioned that you support.
Believe it or not, locals can make an informed decision, we have lived here all our lives.
I was thinking the same thing. No thank you
Why not give the underdogs a chance? There might be some change or waha. One of the underdog wrote in the paper the other day. About 5 different good ideas(building more homes and make it affordable for youths, combine with commercial areas to make it a community where one can walk to work and to have less cars on the highway/roads) that he has to make a difference for Kauai’s people(youths & elders) and Kauai infrastucture.
COMPLETE baloney!
Inform and educate instead at
HAWAIIANKINGDOM.ORG
Aloha Kakou,
Ms Hoeppner your limited knowledge of Council Chairman Mel Rapozo is quite shortsighted and unknowing of the man who can lead us into the next 8 years.
Mel’s youthful “carrying-ons” were part of his youth of which he matured out of and has shown his leadership skills and Aloha for all of us on Kaua’i and works tirelessly for all things Kaua’i.
Thank you Mel for all you have done, are doing, and will do after elected Mayor.
Your ability at being stern at the right moments and times and your brevity in times of needed lightness are skills of leadership.
Don’t Mess with Mel he’# gonna take us further as an OHANA Kaua’i and protect us from any wrong turns in the road ahead.
We have 100% trust and intend to have you lead us the next 8 years.
Mahalo,
Charles
CC- You want us to forget the actions of a then 30 year old police sergeant which contributed in costing County taxpayers a $250,000 settlement with “fondled in the cellblock” Monica Alves? You would have voters ignore this documented history by chalking it up as a “youthful carrying-on”?
When Mel owes up to his grave mistake and pledges the first $250,000 that taxpayers money is paid to him in the future to be re-paid into the county coffers to benefit the public interest, I will then simply judge him for his politics.
How quickly people will dismiss a valuable piece of history and evidence, like reading KPD Blue! Judie is right on-point, not only the council chair was mentioned, but also Kusaka with her racist comment about haole and locals attending council meets. “Locals are well-trained, they would never be in council chambers ONLY haole”. Mayor Baptiste did one year of mayorship from jail. Superferry Chronicles is another read that proves truth about the same and other diverse career politicians. Blingle and Abercrummy was working hard with military stryker brigade, inter island trasport, sorta like RIMPAC war games. “In case national security issues”. The 106 and Navy conversation about their pending EIS. Yet, RIMPAC is already game playing, sorta like after-the-fact permitting. Then, author Bennish retired investigator published The Fifth Seal, AGAIN, recognizable names are named, regarding a four year old child murdered anini beach and the kpd investigation took the snitch brothers’ word, that his psychologically impaired brother was the How quickly people will dismiss a valuable piece of history, like KPD Blue! Judie is right on-point, not only the council chair was mentioned, but also Kusaka with her racist comment about haole and locals attending council meets. “Locals are well-trained, they would never be incouncil chambers ONLY haole”. Mayor Baptiste did one year of mayorship from jail. Superferry Chronicles is another read that proves truth about same and other career politicians. Blingle was working hard with military stryker brigade, inter island trasport, sorta like RIMPAC
war games, “in case national security issues”, like the 106 and Navy conversation about their pending EIS. Yet, RIMPAC is already game playing, sorta like after-the-fact permit for house modifications. Then Bennish retired investigator authored, The Fifth Seal, regarding a four year old child murdered anini beach and the kpd investigation took the snitch brothers’ word, that his psychologically impaired brother was the perp. NOT so. Perp to this day is free alive and well. Also, More recognizable names in kauai corporate AdministrationS departments and their directors are named, busted, Mayor Bernard Gasgate incident with Mel, Lennys wife then kauai bus director. Mel said it best recently in a frustrated moment in council meeting, “borders on corruption” and Dahilig, incapable of saying the word moratorium. Im running for mayor, but using no funds except the basics, so this is how the rigged gigs are handled. Four of Kauai 7-candidates, and only the same guard is PBS interviewed, three not invited. Follow the money trail, NOT who is the most capable in this case career politician Criminals. However, nobody is or has been paying attention. Lacey Woolsey murder, Perp to this day, is free alive and well. More recognizable names in kauai corporate AdministrationS departments TraskS, and their directors. Im running for mayor, but using no funds except the basics, so this is how the rigged gigs are handled. Four of Kauai 7-candidates and only the same monied guards is PBS TV interviewed, three not invited. Who is the most capable in this case, career politician Criminals above what is truth and integrity instead of fraud 125-years, all day every day.
Thanks Judie for a good letter, and like “Kauaiboy” says, brace yourself for the online responses your letter will probably generate. I have to wonder if “Bluedream” actually read “KPD Blue” and, if so, what it is about that book which “Bluedream” finds so objectionable. Unless, of course, unsolved murders and vicious assaults are okay in general. I would say to “Joe Public,” of course locals can make an informed decision, it depends on the person. Living here all one’s life has nothing to do with whether one is well-informed or not, and the same goes for “transplants”, whether they have been here a few months or a few decades. As for “Manawai”, you can search back through past issues of TGI and you will be hard-pressed to find a comment from this person that is even remotely constructive or positive in nature.
I warned you, Ms. Hoeppner, to expect vitriolic reactions to your choices from “locals” who seem to love the status quo. Well, I AM A LOCAL who supports your thinking and your choices. As I mentioned before, I do not know who and I have no idea how long you have lived on Kauai, but I appreciate your ability and willingness to look behind the curtain and expose the Wizards of an OZ who use smoke and mirrors to hide their real agendas.
As far as “Blue Dreams” contention that Anthony Sommers well-written and critically acclaimed book “KPD Blues” was poorly written and exaggerated, I answer that Mr. Sommers would have been successfully sued by Sergeant Mel Rapozo and others if his book was not well-researched and entirely factual. That book simply tells it as it was just 20 years ago.
The Google book review on KPD Blues reads “In 1995, the Kauai Police Department busted a prostitution ring on Hawaii’s “Garden Island.” KPD detectives transported the women back to KPD headquarters, took one into the watch sergeant (Mel Rapozo)’s office and closed the door. Then they took off her clothes and fondled and photographed her. Police supervisors looked the other way. And that was just the beginning…. Two police chiefs were hired to clean up the KPD. Both chiefs were forced out by mayors and a County Council who liked the KPD just the way it was: Racist, sexist and corrupt. If you think banana republics, crooked cops, corrupt politicians and unethical government bureaucrats exist only in the Third World, welcome to Kauai: 100 miles west of and 100 years behind the rest of the United States. KPD BLUE may be the only book about Kauai that contains no pretty pictures.
Let’s face facts. This book has helped clean up the Kauai Police Department, which is far less likely to be involved in major scandals like the one Mel Rapozo was involved in. That’s a good thing. What is not so good is that Mel Rapozo was subsequently, almost amazingly, elected to the County Council, rose to become Council Chair, and is now running for Mayor.
God help us if us “LOCALS” are willing to look the other way and continue to allow unethical and/or corrupt politicians to run our government. I stand by your choices, Ms. Hoeppner, and encourage other voters to do the same, be they locals or transplants.