Full Name: Kelly Takaya King

Name on Ballot: Kelly Takaya King

Age: 56

District: South Maui

Email Address: kelly@kellyking.org

Current Job: Vice president of Pacific Biodiesel

Place of birth: Gardena, Calif.

Campaign website: www.kellyking.org

Job history past 10 years:

Co-founder and vice president of Pacific Biodiesel. Duties include communications and public outreach, marketing, grant writing, business development, administration and employee supervision

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

Yes, I ran for the Hawaii State Board of Education, Maui representation, in 1994 and was successful, serving the full term from 1994-98.

Other civic experience or community service?

My involvement in children’s issues, including PTA and the Girl Scouts, led to my election to serve on the Hawaii State Board of Education. Along with my community efforts to build local playgrounds, fight for better school conditions and localize decision-making, I’ve been an active board member of Decisions Maui, Hui Malama Learning Center, AKAKU and the Maui Farmers Union. I continue to support sustainability as VP of Pacific Biodiesel and an advisory committee member of the UH Maui College Sustainable Sciences Management Program.

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

A 35-year resident of Kihei, my husband and I have two children born and raised on Maui who both received master’s from UH. My candidacy is not a personal career goal, but an opportunity to serve the people of Maui and work toward more transparent, responsive and efficient government.

What makes you qualified to be a Council member?

As an involved citizen, education and sustainability champion, and local business owner, I understand the balance required for smart growth and the responsibility of leadership for the greater good. I’ve lived all my adult life on Maui and have been personally involved with South Maui issues for three decades.

What are your top five priorities for the county?

Community Planning/infrastructure alignment; county governance (see answer below on form of government); agriculture; water, including water quality around Maui’s shorelines; affordable housing and rentals

What is your one big idea?

Maui needs constant reminding of our shared goals and values — expressed in our Community Plans, developed with extensive community input, and detailed in our Countywide Policy Plan that was adopted in 2010. This document should be guiding all County Council decisions and be used as a benchmark for successful development.

What do you think about the proposal to go from a mayor/council form of government to a manager/council form?

I support changing our current system to an elected governing body that hires and oversees a professional county manager. This would give citizens the accountability that is lacking in Maui’s current system where councilmembers have no control over administrative duties yet must decide on funding requested by the administration.

What can the Council do to deal with the economic impact from the end of sugar on Maui?

The Council could and should be working with A&B and HC&S officials to bring more transparency to the planning process for replacing sugar. Working with our state and federal legislators, the Council can also work to secure more funding for local farming on HC&S important agricultural land acres.

Affordable housing is in short supply on Maui. How would you suggest increasing the inventory of affordable housing?

We need to first review qualifications for affordable housing, which are too high with regards to income. It is important that the current inventory serve those who truly need affordable housing. This needs to be done in conjunction with assistance programs and/or lowering the cost of affordable homes.