Some nonprofit resources
for planning your Election Day
From Kanu Hawaii
On Tuesday, Nov. 2, we’ll be asked to choose our Governor and Lieutenant Governor, State Representatives and Senators, County Councilors, our Board of Education, and more. We asked candidates to share their views on issues important to Kanu Hawaii members including education, the economy, clean energy, food security, and homelessness. We also asked candidates to talk about their personal commitments – the steps they’ve taken at home and at work to address Hawaii’s challenges in these areas. Click here to view responses from all the candidates surveyed, including those for the Stae Senate and House.
Snapshots of some candidate responses
- Duke Aiona's family shops weekly at local farmers markets to support our local food system.
Read more about his policy ideas and personal commitments. - Neil Abercrombie’s Congressional office was one of the first to compost its food waste.
Read more about his policy ideas and personal commitments. - Lynn Finnegan “adopted” a public charter school as a personal commitment.
Read more about her policy ideas and personal commitments. - Calivn Say committed to minimizing yard and fence signs in response to concerns of the Outdoor Circle.
Read more about his policy ideas and personal commitments.
You can read more responses from candidates for State House and Senate, Governor and Lieutenant Governor at www.kanuhawaii.org/candidates2010.
Spotlight on ballot measures
On Tuesday, we will also be asked to vote on a number of “ballot measures” - whether we want an elected or appointed Board of Education, new conflict of interest rules for City appointees, a Rail Transit Authority and other decisions. Kanu Hawaii members have shared content to help us make an informed choice on two of these questions...
- Appointed School Board? – “Shall the Board of Education be changed to a board appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, as provided by law?” Opponents of an appointed board note that the purpose of an elected BOE is to ensure that voters have a say in education, and prevent too much power from being in the Governor’s hands. Supporters point out that the current system is not serving the interests of student, and that an appointed board would enable greater cooperation between the Governor and the BOE, preventing the kind of stalemate that resulted in Furlough Fridays. Read more from Ann Davis of Hawaii Education Matters with links to a diverse range of perspectives.
- Create a Honolulu City Office of Housing? – “Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to create an office of housing directly under the mayor, to be headed by an administrator who shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to council confirmation, and who may be removed by the mayor?” Supporters point out that every other County but Honolulu has a housing office, that funds are already appropriated, and that a dedicated agency would streamline and coordinate housing resources, working with private developers to bring more affordable housing online. Opponents caution that the new office should not become a housing developer itself, and are concerned about the creation of an additional agency.
Read more from Jun Yang of Faith Action for Community Equity Office and links to different views. - 'Rainy day' ballot question would bolster safety net – “Shall the Legislature be provided with the choice, when the state general fund balance at the close of each of two successive fiscal years exceeds 5 [percent] of the general fund revenues for each of the two fiscal years, to provide a tax refund or tax credit to the taxpayers of the state, or to make a deposit into one or more funds, as provided by law, which shall serve as temporary supplemental sources of funding for the state in times of an emergency, economic downturn or unforeseen reduction in revenue?” While most of the attention leading up to the Nov. 2 election has been on a proposed constitutional amendment calling for an appointed school board, there is a second amendment that will have a direct impact on Hawaii’s taxpayers. The lesser-known step-sister to the school board amendment would allow the state Legislature to deposit excess general fund revenues into an emergency or “rainy day” fund. The fund would serve as a safety net in times of economic hardship, such as what has occurred over the past two years. Currently, the Hawaii Constitution requires that any excess in general funds be returned to taxpayers in the form of a refund, or credit. The proposed amendment, if approved, would give the Legislature a third option.
