Your Views for July 19

A clean slate

We have before us now an opportunity to bring forth new leadership into our county government and rid ourselves of this embarrassingly stagnated government structure.

The large number of people running for mayor reflects the widespread disgust of the populace for the way things have been operated. Unfortunately, the forum organizers decided to group the candidates into front-runners and others, as I would surely like to hear the novel concepts of the others.

Two of the so-called front-runners promise business as usual to continue the progress that has been made the last 16 years. I hardly would categorize that as progress. This county has been operated on a platform of crisis management. Things get done when administrators’ backs are against the wall, at higher costs and lower efficiency. The Hilo landfill is a good example.

We should have hundreds if not thousands of affordable housing units already built, sufficient waste-water treatment, adequate roads in Puna and a fair real estate tax system.

When Pahoa was threatened by lava, two escape routes were quickly designed and established. An encouraging sign but still driven by crisis.

There is encouragement elsewhere, too: NextEra was denied takeover of the Hawaiian Electric companies.

The mayoral candidates all speak about the same problems: the homeless, poverty, grant writing, meeting energy independence goals and the slowness of government in issuing building permits. Only a few offer workable solutions as opposed to the others who nebulously profess that business as usual will eventually get things done.

Let us begin now with a progressive clean slate. All those registered must vote and vote for the candidates who will bring the county out of its torpor and move it forward in step with the political pressures of tomorrow.

Mike Reimer

Kailua-Kona