Full Name: Jeffrey M. Citron

Name on Ballot: Jeff Citron

Age: 70

District / office: Hawaii County Council / District 8

Email Address: citron@hawaii.rr.com

Current Job: Retired

Place of birth: Oakland, Calif.

Campaign website: jeff-citron.com

Job history past 10 years:

Kona coffee processor, and general manager and part owner of Captain Cook Coffee Co. Real Estate agent. Land use consultant. Built and owned a restaurant called The Coffee Shack.

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

No

Other civic experience or community service?

President of the Kona Coffee Council. Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, class 2, 1983-85. Involved with the LESA (Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) which identified important Agricultural Lands in Kona. President of The Community Association of Hualalai, which is made up of five subdivisions.

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

I want to bring more transparency to government and the issues we face today. Some of the many issues we need to address are the Keauhou aquifer, Kealakehe sewage plant, the homeless, the out of control budget and debt. We also need to review any more possible flooding issues.

What makes you qualified to be a Council member?

I have been a resident in Kona for 45 years, and I have a business degree from University of Northridge. During my residency I’ve been involved in the Kona Coffee Industry, the building industry, a real estate agent, a land use consultant, and owner of a restaurant.

What are your top five priorities for the county?

A balanced budget and controlling debt. Reviewing capital improvement projects, (Kealakehe Sewage Plant. County not state control of the Keauhou Aquifer. Reviewing the ever increasing homeless problem which is effecting our children, tourist, and businesses. Do not extend term limits in County Council.

What is your one big idea?

To establish a temporary shelter for the homeless on state land next to the Police Department. The shelter would provide a place to sleep, food, and bathroom facilities. Help bring different agencies or resource people to identify their needs and find or provide temporary or permanent housing when available.

The Hilo landfill is nearing capacity. When it closes, should trash from East Hawaii be hauled to the Puuanahulu landfill, or not?

No, only if we have to. We need to find better solutions to handling the trash. Looking into turning trash into renewable energy. We need to have vision, and not handle trash in the traditional sense, and to encourage the private sector to address these problems with new innovating ideas.

The basic fare for the Hele-On bus system is $2, but the system still requires taxpayer subsidies to operate. The county has demonstrated that a lower fare can increase ridership. Should the fare be reduced, increased or left the same?

The fares should remain the same. I feel like it helps the lower income people and also ones that are working. We might be able to better help gear the bus system for families that have children in public, private, and charter school. Also increase the trolleys for tourist.

The gasoline tax in Hawaii County is now 8.8 cents per gallon, about half that of Kauai, Maui and Oahu. Do you support increasing the county gas tax to provide more funding for maintenance of county roads and the Hele-On bus system?

Raising the gasoline tax might help to offset our deficit, that was just recently created. Good roads are needed to keep our economy strong and to create a good business climate. We also need to provide our taxpayers with suitable roads to safely drive on.