Position Running For

Kauai County Council

What area(s) of the Island do you call home?

East Side

What is your vision for a thriving agricultural sector on Kauai and how can the County support that vision?

Agriculture should become one of Kauaʻi’s strongest economic engines while improving our food security, environmental resilience, and quality of life. My vision is a modern agricultural economy that supports farmers, expands local food production, creates good-paying jobs, and grows value-added businesses that keep more wealth circulating on Kauaʻi.

The County’s role is to remove barriers and invest in the needs of farmers where we can. I support thoughtful plans for water management, food hubs, processing facilities, composting projects, distribution networks, and both local food production and export agriculture. We should continue expanding cottage food opportunities, strengthen local procurement, and encourage regenerative farming practices that improve soil health while reducing long-term costs.

If elected, how would you engage with the business community prior to your decision-making?

Good decisions begin with listening. Before making major policy decisions, I believe elected officials should engage businesses, employees, labor organizations, nonprofit partners, subject matter experts, and residents who will be affected.

During my first term I have made it a priority to conduct site visits, meet directly with stakeholders, and understand challenges. Businesses often have valuable insight into unintended consequences and practical solutions that government may overlook.

While I may not always agree with every perspective, every stakeholder deserves to be heard. My commitment is to remain accessible, transparent, and respectful throughout the decision-making process while balancing economic opportunity with community and environmental responsibility.

How would you help ensure that working middle class residents can afford to buy or rent a home on Kauaʻi?

Housing affordability requires increasing supply while lowering the cost of building and preserving housing for local residents. That means addressing costs of septic conversion, permitting delays for ARUs and ADUs and investing in wastewater infrastructure that allows housing to be built where it is already planned.

We must also preserve housing for residents by supporting long-term rentals and discouraging the continued loss of residential housing into the visitor market where appropriate.

Housing is closely connected to transportation, infrastructure, wages, and our local economy. Solving this challenge requires coordination across all of these areas. My goal is to create practical policies that help local families remain on Kauaʻi while protecting the unique character of our communities.

How would you effectively manage budget and operations compared to the past?

Every budget decision should be viewed as an investment rather than simply an expense. My approach is to budget conservatively, prioritize projects that provide lasting public value, and carefully evaluate long-term costs before making decisions.

Throughout my first term I have consistently asked detailed questions about project timelines, staffing, operational costs, and measurable outcomes. I support performance-based budgeting, independent auditing, transparent reporting, and greater accountability for project delivery.

Government should operate efficiently while maintaining the infrastructure and services residents depend upon. Responsible budgeting means planning beyond the next fiscal year and investing today in projects that reduce future costs while strengthening Kauaʻi’s long-term financial stability.

What specific ideas do you have about economic diversification and how would you develop these areas?

Kauaʻi’s future depends upon building a more diverse and resilient economy. Agriculture, food manufacturing, ecological restoration projects & conservation, research, skilled trades, local entrepreneurship, and technology all present opportunities for sustainable growth.

I believe one of our greatest opportunities is developing what I call a restoration economy where restoring watersheds, native ecosystems, coastlines, agriculture, and cultural landscapes creates jobs, supports local businesses, improves public infrastructure, improves quality of life, strengthens resilience, and enhances the visitor experience simultaneously.

Rather than depending heavily on one sector, we should invest in industries that complement one another and create long-term economic stability while protecting the natural resources that make Kauaʻi unique.

What are your priorities for infrastructure investment? How would you ensure that planned infrastructure projects (roads, wastewater, facilities, bridges, etc.) on Kauai move forward in a timely manner?

I understand that our roads and wastewater infrastructure needs significant investment, along with our landfill. These areas are my priorities for investment in the coming years. I believe that we need to invest in long term solutions that may come with significant upfront investment costs to set us up for the long term. I believe we need to consider flood mitigation, park improvements, transportation improvements and climate resilience in everything we do.

Delivering projects requires consistent oversight, realistic budgeting, early identification of obstacles, and strong collaboration between departments, contractors, and funding partners.

Residents deserve infrastructure that is safe, reliable, and built efficiently. Transparency, accountability, and proactive communication are essential to delivering projects on time and within budget. As a Councilmember, I regularly monitor project progress, ask detailed questions, and continue to fund these investments. I will continue to look for ways to encourage timely completion where legislative action is appropriate.

What is your vision for effective management of the visitor industry so that economic goals are met while ensuring community and environmental concerns are addressed?

Tourism will remain an important part of Kauaʻi’s economy, but success should be measured by the benefits it provides residents, not simply by visitor numbers.

I support destination management that protects sensitive places, improves education, strengthens enforcement where needed, expands transportation alternatives, and reinvests visitor revenue into maintaining the places residents and visitors both enjoy.

We should continue growing authentic cultural, agricultural, and environmental experiences that support local businesses while encouraging visitors to experience Kauaʻi respectfully. Well-managed tourism strengthens our economy while preserving the communities and landscapes that make our island special.

What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kauaʻi? Please include your views on recycling, landfill site, source reduction, and other strategies.

Solid waste is one of the County’s most urgent responsibilities. We must continue moving forward with planning and permitting our next landfill while dramatically reducing the amount of material entering it.

That means expanding recycling, composting, organics diversion, source reduction, material recovery, and public education. We should also evaluate waste decisions using full life-cycle costs, recognizing the long-term economic value of landfill diversion, environmental protection, and resource recovery. We also need to focus on a targeted plan for construction and demolition diversion.

Reducing waste extends landfill life, protects public health, lowers future costs, and creates opportunities for local businesses and innovation. Waste should be viewed as a resource whenever possible rather than simply something to dispose of. I believe the “external costs” are valid of consideration as we invest in the path forward for the next 200 years of solid waste management.

As an elected official, what steps would you take to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Kauaʻi?

Climate resilience should be incorporated into every major County decision. That includes restoring watersheds, protecting coastlines, reducing wildfire risk, improving flood management, strengthening infrastructure, supporting local food production, reducing waste, and investing in renewable energy where appropriate.

As an environmental scientist, I understand that healthy ecosystems provide some of our strongest natural defenses against climate impacts. Restoring forests, wetlands, streams, reefs, and agricultural lands improves water security, captures carbon, supports biodiversity, and protects our communities.

Preparing for climate change is not simply an environmental responsibility, it is also an economic investment that reduces future costs and strengthens Kauaʻi’s long-term resilience.

What else would you like to share with the business community?

I believe Kauaʻi’s greatest strength is our people. Small businesses, farmers, nonprofits, unions, entrepreneurs, and local families all contribute to building a stronger island.

As a Councilmember, I strive to be approachable, responsive, and thoughtful in every decision I make. I value collaboration, transparency, and respectful dialogue, even when we disagree.

My vision is to help build a more resilient Kauaʻi, one with a diversified economy, thriving local businesses, affordable housing, healthy ecosystems, strong infrastructure, and opportunities that allow future generations to continue calling this island home.