From 1998 to 2006, Dain Kane represented Wailuku on the Maui County Council. He ran for mayor in 2006, lost, then did a bunch of political odd jobs around the county. Now he wants his own seat back, though there are four others in the race, too.
As you’ll see below, the politically savvy Kane is very careful with his answers. Sometimes too careful for our tastes, but hey–he can answer our questions his way.
MAUITIME: What is your top priority if elected?
DAIN KANE: Establishing positive working relationships with Council Colleagues, & Mayor with his respective Department Directors and personnel to find common ground in providing effective services to our citizenry.
MT: What event in your life best prepared you for public office?
DK: No single event–rather, a collection of experiences that involved varying types of engagement in our communities: Children in competitive youth sports; Educator in Public School system; Sales & Management experience in Private Sector = getting elected in 1998 to Maui County Council for four consecutive terms.
MT: Who should be the next President of the United States?
DK: From our presumptive choices: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
MT: Which person who previously held the office you’re seeking do you hold up as a model? Why?
DK: No particular individual: All have brought a different collection of characteristics that I consider having strengths to emulate, as well as weaknesses to avoid.
MT: What’s your opinion on changing the County Charter to a county manager form of government? Why?
DK: Don’t agree with an outright change–prefer tweaking. I support the recommendations provided by the May 2016 Cost of Government’s Annual Report. See: Mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/103826
MT: Do you support changing the County Charter to allow the mayor, as opposed to the Liquor Commission, to appoint the Liquor Control Director?
DK: No
MT: What should the county do that it isn’t already doing to alleviate homelessness?
DK: Statistics show that Maui County is devoting much more of its available resources than all other Counties in Hawaii. We just need to continue supporting those individuals and entities on the front lines to provide services to help our most vulnerable citizens in need. Council should continue to provide funding on multiple fronts.
MT: HC&S is closing at the end of this year–what do you think A&B should do with the 37,000 acres that were used for growing sugar?
DK: Maintain diverse active agriculture with viable crop alternatives.
Photo courtesy Dain Kane
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