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Candidates for Honolulu Mayor square off in first public forum
For the first time, all five candidates for Honolulu mayor were under the same roof to face-off in a public forum. They addressed issues affecting the economy, development and social services. Until current Mayor Mufi Hannemann files for Governor, the seat for Mayor is not yet open. But today's candidates didn't let that stop them from discussing how they would handle the City's top job. For Kirk Caldwell, Peter Carlisle, Donovan Dela Cruz, Panos Prevedouros and Rod Tam, the issue top of mind is the budget. "The two years I’ve been at the City, we have made it more efficient, it is smaller and it is working better,” said Caldwell. Not all candidates agreed furloughing City workers was the right way to go. "Let's start with furloughs. It was a bad idea to start with, it's a horrible idea right now,” said Carlisle. "Ending furloughs and balancing the budget requires a multi-faceted approach, streamlining City infrastructure and reducing costs,” said Dela Cruz. A few of the candidates highlighted the need to cut spending. "We asking for more services on government, where by it costs you the taxpayers more,” said Tam. "How do you balance a budget? Stop doing projects you cannot afford,” questioned Prevedouros. That question led to another hot topic -- mass transit. All but one of the candidates supports the Honolulu rail project. "I will stop the rail dead in its tracks, it's the worst project we will probably ever do,” said Prevedouros. The other four candidates say rail is the solution. "Let’s not give up the hope. Let's look in terms realistically how we can make it possible for those that want it possible,” said Tam. "We cannot continue to keep paving over our ‘aina. We live on a small island and we've paved enough,” said Caldwell. "In the long run, it's my hope top to not just see a rail that goes fro here to downtown to the University. I'd love to see it go across the Koolau's,” said Carlisle. "We can curb urban sprawl, keep the country country, focus development along the rail line,” said Dela Cruz. The two-hour debate was civil with none of the candidates lobbing any attacks or barbs at one another.
[From KHON2] |
