Norma Doctor Sparks

Full Name: Norma Doctor Sparks, M.S.W., J.D.

Name on Ballot: Norma Doctor Sparks

Age: 66

District: Countywide

Email Address: normadoctorsparks@gmail.com

Current Job:

President and co-founder, Families First Hawaii Services Inc.

Place of birth: Lihue

Campaign website: normadoctorsparks.com

Job history past 10 years:

2012 – 2016: President and co-founder, Families First Hawaii Services Inc.

2011 – 2012: Assistant director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services

2009 – 2011: Deputy director, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

2002 – 2009: Director, Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley) Department of Family and Children’s Services.

Previous Hawaii positions:

Administrator, Child Welfare Services, state Department of Social Services

Director, Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency

State of Hawaii Deputy Attorney General

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

No previous run for public office

Other civic experience or community service?

Vice President, Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce;

Director, Kauai Planning and Action Alliance Board of Directors;

Director, Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors;

Former Director, Kauai High School Foundation Board of Directors;

Former President, Kauai Filipino Women’s Club;

Former Secretary, Koloa Community Association;

Completed Feasibility Study of Proposed Adolescent Residential Treatment for Substance for Kauai County.

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

My family has roots to the sugar plantations and a history of commitment to Kauai. I will bring a fresh perspective and am committed to serving the people of Kauai. With my experience and training, I know that I can help make County services more efficient and cost effective.

What makes you qualified to be a Council member?

I will use my deputy attorney general experience to consider consequences and legality of Council actions; my director of large public agencies experiences (I managed $4 billion and 14,000 employees) to manage the county’s budget and activities; and my social worker experience to address Kauai’s social conditions.

What is your one big idea?

Change the oversight and management processes of county budgeting to hold administration accountable, identify mandatory expenses, and balance the budget. At end of third quarter, in format designed by Council, expenditures for personnel, operations, special fund(s) and new taxes; federal monies claimed; balances, and mandatory fourth quarter expenses identified.

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

Construction quality is critical to pavement performance. Increase Council’s oversight and management of County’s “highway fund”. Require annual and quarterly plans by administration on priorities of road repairs and completion costs; funds raised by existing gas taxes and balances of funds; identification of materials used; and vendors’ performance.

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

The county should increase efforts to conserve, protect and preserve our environmental resources through advocacy, education and outreach programs; to reuse, reduce, recycle and intelligently dispose of waste materials; and to promote composting, pollution and waste prevention and sustainable living practices for all the people in Kauai County.

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

The county should facilitate a “Housing First” program that requires participation and agreement to achieve common goals by law enforcement, rental property owners, poverty programs, and employers. Priority is given to identifying resources to re-house families with children and veterans temporarily and then permanently as quickly as possible.