Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, December 5, 2024 83° Today's Paper


Election

Juno Ann Apalla

Full name: Juno Ann Apalla

Name on ballot: Juno Ann Apalla

Age: 28

Email Address: info@junoapalla.com

Current job:

Executive administrative assistant, Antolin G. Apalla Jr. DMD Inc.; public relations coordinator, Malama Pono Health Services

Place of birth: Pangasinan, Philippines

Campaign website:

www.junoapalla.com

Job history past 10 years:

Public relations coordinator/ride director, Malama Pono Health Services, Lihue

Event coordinator, March of Dimes, Honolulu/Lihue

Universal banker, Central Pacific Bank, Kapaa

Personal banker, American Savings Bank, Lihue

Financial services professional, MassMutual, Portland, Ore.

Film and television professional, various, Portland

Creative director, NHOH, Pacific University, Forest Grove, Ore.

Resident assistant, Pacific University, Forest Grove

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

This is my first time running for public office.

Other civic experience or community service?

Volunteer for several organizations: Malama Pono Health Services, Rotary Club, Zonta Club of Kaua‘i, Kauai Philippine Cultural Arts Center, Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Kauai Visitors Industry Walk, Kauai Lions Club, Kauai Sings, St. Michael’s Church, Immaculate Conception Church, Survivor Advocate for Sexual Assault Resource Center, Center for Gender Equity, etc.

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

Raised on Kauai, graduated Pacific University, licensed life and health producer in Hawaii, notary public in County of Kauai and Niihau. Aiming to bridge inequities between government leadership and community feedback, I will myself to accomplish this task with integrity by actively seeking multiple sources for feedback.

What makes you qualified to be a Council member?

I am a qualified voter of Kauai County at least two years prior to election year 2016. This is the stated qualifications for anyone running for a seat in the Kauai County Council. All seven seats are up for election, are nonpartisan offices and represent Kauai at large.

What is your one big idea?

The big idea we may share in common is the ideal of a unified county, who act on behalf of the people’s best interest. The big idea is to bridge the gaps in leadership by being an example, and by encouraging the hearts of disenfranchised millennials, enabling them to act.

What steps can the Council take to reduce the county’s backlog of road repairs?

Work together as if they are in the same team, prioritize foundational plans for long-term environmental and economic stability, encourage state delegates to prioritize county, allocate funds toward projects that enable departments/bureaus to work together, consider negative impacts of tax increase to small-business owners and working class.

The Kekaha Landfill has about 10 years of life left. What alternative waste disposal methods should the county take up?

I wait for convincing evidence that waste-to-energy plants are the solution for space and energy issues. It can be a solution. I look forward to developments in the technology because for now, waste-to-energy facilities are as expensive as landfills and pose potential environmental and health threats.

What should the county do to help house the homeless on Kauai?

A homeless person is “an individual without permanent housing … in an unstable or non-permanent situation,” e.g., me (NHCHC). I look toward real property tax for possible solutions to this issue with hope to address how properties are valued, and bringing prices to something equitable to the minimum wage.

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