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Editor’s note:ÌýFor Hawaii’s Aug. 13 primary election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions.

The following came fromÌýPeter Hoffman,Ìýa candidate for Hawaii County mayor. There are 12Ìýother candidates.

Go to Civil Beat’sÌýElections GuideÌýfor general information, and check out other candidates on theÌýPrimary Election Ballot.

Name: Peter Hoffman

Office seeking: Hawaii County mayor

Occupation: Retired U.S. Army colonel

Community organizations/prior offices held:ÌýFour-term County Council member, 2004-2012; Council chair, 2006-2008; Board of Directors, West Hawaii Community Health Center, seven years; formerly member ofÌýBoard of Directors, Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra, four years; University of Hawaii regent, 2014-2015; organized Waikoloa Senior Center, served nine years as president; substitute teacher, Waikoloa Middle School; appeared in the last three musicals at Aloha Performing Arts Center

Age as of Aug. 13: 75

Place of residence: Waikoloa, Hawaii County

Campaign website:Ìý

1.This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want big changes in how government is run.Ìý What would you do to change how the Council is run? Ìý Ìý

I don’t see any change necessary in how our County Council operates.ÌýI believe the Council operates fairly efficiently.ÌýThe change I would bring is in approach to how the mayor and Council work together.ÌýToo often in the past that relationship has been antagonistic.ÌýI see the Council not as an antagonist, but as a partner in effective government, and I would ensure that I would take the first steps to forge a new relationship with the Council immediately after my inauguration.

2. Should your county implement a 0.5% GET surcharge?Ìý If so, for what purpose?

I am opposed to any increase in the GET in Hawaii County.ÌýI think it is a most regressive form of taxation which adversely impacts the very people we are trying to assist with any program.ÌýI will not advocate increasing the GET.

3. There is a desire to grow the economy through new development yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources.Ìý How would balance these competing interests?

New development is of vital importance to our economy and quality of life here in Hawaii County.ÌýWe must not throw roadblocks in the path of every development without suffering a disaster in our economy.ÌýProtecting our environment is an equally critical part of our economy, our way of life and the success or failure of any new development.ÌýThese are not mutually exclusive.ÌýI believe in recent years we’ve learned that both complement each other and all parties involved are better educated and capable of making good decisions that maintain the balance required.ÌýOur county’s aggressive efforts to purchase properties for open space and access speaks directly to this issue, as well as the good efforts of a variety of organizations and the county to insure that common sense regulations are implemented to promote environmental awareness without sacrificing development objectives.

4.ÌýWhat would you do to strengthen police accountability?

As new technology matures, this new equipment/capabilities should be implemented by the police.ÌýBody cameras, for example, and video feedback to a centralized location are advances for which I would advocate.ÌýI believe more and frequent individual training, personnel reviews performed by higher echelon staff, and consistent input from a more knowledgeable public would assist all and keep the concept of police accountability viable.

5.ÌýWhat specific steps would you take to strengthen Hawaii’s lax lobbying, ethics and financial disclosure laws?

I believe there is a perception on the part of too many of our residents that county officials are prone to corruption.ÌýWhether that is true or not, as mayor I must change that perception.ÌýFor example, expanding our Ethics Commission to nine members is part of that effort.ÌýAs mayor I will establish an open government in which questions are answered and information is provided to the public quickly and as efficiently as possible. Ìý Frankly, I think we have most of the necessary regulations and rules required, butÌý I will advocate (along with my fellow mayors) to the tate Legislature to make whatever changes in the future we need.ÌýThis is a leadership issue and it must start with the mayor and his/her own conduct and behavior.Ìý Ìý Ìý

6.ÌýWould you support eliminating Hawaii’s high fees for access to public records when the request is in the public interest?

I do not see that retaining these fees causes significant hardship or delay for those accessing public records.ÌýI can see the possibility of making exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but I think the difficulty would remain in how you define “public interest.”

7.ÌýVoters complain that their elected officials don’t listen to them.Ìý What would you do to improve communication?

I would continue the regular Town Meeting sessions the current administration began some time ago and even increase the frequency of them as time permits.ÌýI will establish a regular series of media interviews and respond to all questions and requests for information.ÌýMy administration will change the current attitude that the Community Development Plans are wasting time.ÌýIndeed I will insure that the thousands of hours of community effort and input generated in support of the CDP process is publicly acknowledged and that specific aspects are included in county legislation where possible.ÌýI have a reputation of listening to all sides of an issue before making a decision.ÌýThat will continue.

8.Ìý What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district?ÌýWhat will you do about?

In my opinion, the fact that all too many county residents live at or below federal poverty guidelines is our most pressing issue.ÌýUntil we begin to address poverty, all the other efforts we accomplish, no matter how well intentioned, will have little value.ÌýI have no one “silver bullet” to eliminate poverty, but we must be better able to feed and house ourselves if any progress is to be made.

As mayor I want to see a greatly expanded investment in the county’s agricultural sector.ÌýThere is no reason why we can’t feed ourselves on our island in the short term, and over a longer period of time, become the breadbasket for the state.ÌýReducing our dependence on imported food and increasing the acreage we have in production, can go a long way to maintain jobs and improve our standard of living for all.

In the same vein, we must significantly increase the number of affordable housing units available to our county residents, especially rental units.ÌýFood and housing are basic human necessities.ÌýWe must do better than we have done previously in both areas.