A Letter From Joe

 

Dear Friends and Voters:

The following are few of the many questions I have received:

Why am I running for Council?

I love this Island and its people. Two of my children, 5 grandchildren and a great granddaughter live here. I simply cannot stand by and see the county on a path that may lead to disaster. This county needs to fix its infrastructure problems in the right way, for the right amount of money and move to make our future brighter. I will work hard toward that goal.

What has been done so far?

Unfulfilled promises on highway and road improvements, the landfill, waste to energy and the Kona Civic Center are just a few of the major deficits. Millions spent or encumbered and still no result. We have seen the operating budget go from $175 million in 2000 to a whopping $403 million this fiscal year. What do we have to show for this in West Hawaii? The County and West Hawaii deserves leaders that can be trusted to tell the truth, keep promises, and make real progress on traffic, trash and other needed infrastructure.

What is the future I see for the County?

One of the reasons I have decided to make the personal sacrifice for myself and my family is because I, like you, am greatly concerned about the Big Island’s future. Many things have changed since I first served on the Council in 1996, and not necessarily for the better.

We all know that continuing on today’s path will lead to higher taxes, worsening traffic, and mounting trash. But it does not have to be this way. We need the best engineering and technical minds to deliver solutions for our traffic and trash problems. We need to prioritize and take care of necessities first. My hope and my goal is that this County will become a model for the State with an efficient roadway system and a sustainable trash and recycling system, along with up-to-date infrastructure. A transportation system that gets you where you want to go; a trash management system that respects the island, the ocean and the people; and a county powered by clean, affordable, renewable energy.

How to run the county?

The way has been to initiate projects at great expense that provide little benefit; my plan is to gain community consensus on each problem we are trying to solve and then work with the Council and the Administration to make sure that we use the most cost-effective solution to solve it. My sole purpose of running for Council is to work hard to fix the Big Island’s infrastructure problems and see that Kona and West Hawaii finally receive the promises made and not kept.

What am I asking you to do?

I have a bright vision for the future of the Big Island. We can solve our traffic, trash, and infrastructure problems. If you want what I want for Kona and the Big Island, I need to you to go my web site today. I need you to volunteer your time and expertise to help my campaign. I need you to contribute to my campaign. I need you to join my team! Sign up here. The Big Island has a bright future only if you believe it does. And if you do, then I ask for your vote and your help.

Mahalo!

Joe Reynolds