“If we don’t fix our election process nothing else matters.”
Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 10 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.
The following came from Karl Dicks, candidate for Honolulu mayor. His opponents include Rick Blangiardi, Choon James, Duke Bourgoin.
Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot.
Candidate for Honolulu Mayor
Community organizations/prior offices held
1. What’s the biggest issue facing the City and County of Honolulu and what will you do about it?
I ran for mayor 2020 and have not stopped. I have seen so much corruption I actually stopped looking for it and it is overwhelming for most people.
Let’s start with the office of corrupt elections. Elections are what at one time separated our country and state from the rest of the world. That time has passed.
The courts don’t care and do nothing. The media don’t care, and do nothing. Those who were selected or not elected in accordance to the laws of the State of Hawaii don’t care and do nothing.
If we don’t fix our election process nothing else matters.
2. Year after year, we talk about the need to diversify the economy away from a reliance on tourism. Do you think that is even possible and if so what would you do?
Yes, it is possible with the right leadership, not politicians who primarily seek office to line their pockets.
Manufacturing is possible in Hawaii. An economy based on only tourism is almost a modern version of slavery. It is destroying Hawaii.
3. In Hawaii, the term affordable housing has lost its meaning. What would you do to help people buy homes or move into rental units?
“Affordable housing” is code for how politicians line their pockets. It is not a definable goal, but meaningless and a scam.
4. The city wanted to eliminate short-term rentals from neighborhoods because they brought overcrowding. On the other hand a new state law sought to allow for higher density and more construction of homes on the same property which could bring more congestion to some neighborhoods. How do you balance the need for additional housing and private property rights while preserving the character of neighborhoods?
The city, county and state have caused this issue in every way. They allow and encourage nonresident investment, which fuels the problems of Hawaii and forces residents to seek any and all opportunities for income.
5. What should be the future of the Honolulu rail project? How do you to resolve this seemingly endless drain on public money and continuing delays? Should the line continue to Ala Moana as originally planned and how will you keep operating costs under control?
It never should have started. It is a poorly planned and illegally funded through the state. It is a slush fund for politicians.
6. Homelessness remains a problem on Oahu. What should the city be doing differently?
Stop the courts, lawyers and politicians who are profiting from it. The homeless are a tool being used for profit, or to threaten others, or used to cover up activities if needed.
7. What should be done to improve policing and police accountability in Honolulu? Should oversight of the police department be strengthened or reformed?
What the courts and lawyers and politicians are doing puts every police officer and citizen in danger.
8. Honolulu has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. What should the city do to alleviate congestion?
Have a real desire to fix traffic with intelligence, not politics. I have hundreds of very low-cost ideas, some as simple as changing lane markings and timing lights.
9. What more should Honolulu be doing to prepare for the effects of climate change, including sea level rise and threats to the reefs?
Stop repeating the lie.
10. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill vacancies on the police department, the parks department and in many other city agencies. The city is struggling to provide basic services. What would you do to solve this problem and attract qualified people to fill essential services?
See answer to No. 6.
11. Oahu’s only municipal landfill is due to close in 2028, but the city still doesn’t know where to put the next one. What will you do address this issue?
Commonsense answers are out there. We don’t need another landfill.
12. What lessons have you learned from the Lahaina fire? What can be done to prevent devastating wildfires on Oahu?
As a former firefighter and EMT, “Lahaina wildfire” is not the truth of what happened on Maui. There were multiple factors involved.
Better fire prevention plans are not that difficult.
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