2020 Election: Mike Dandurand

Name on ballot:

Mike Dandurand

Running for:

Kauai county council

Political party:

Non partisan

Campaign website:

mikedandurand.org

Current occupation:

Small Business Owner/ Mobile Dj

Age:

57

Previous job history:

Major Hotel Chain/Sales, Industrial Supply/Sales, Restaurant Supply/Sales

Previous elected office, if any:

First Time

Please describe your qualifications to represent the voters of your county.

I have lived and worked on Kaua’i for 34 years. I have been a part of thousands of local weddings, graduations, birthdays, reunions, and business events. I love Kaua’i and it’s people.

What will be your top priority if elected?

1)Establish a working food hub model for local farmers, 2) Find a way to limit rental cars and 3) Promote affordable housing developments for locals.

As Hawaii faces the COVID-19 pandemic, what more should county government do to protect residents’ health?

Testing, Testing, Testing. Until we can do that, we cannot protect our resident’s health.

What should county government do to help residents who have been economically affected by the pandemic?

Kaua’i is a tight community who support each other in time of need. We have survived hurricanes, flooding and land slides, a recession and now a pandemic. . Kupa’a Kaua’i (Pulling Together) at kauaiforward.com is a great resource economically affected residents and well as the Office of Economic development at 241-4946. We are resilient, we are proud and we take care of each other.

Should public worker furloughs, pay cuts or downsizing be used to help the county deal with lower tax revenues and higher expenses during the pandemic? Why or why not?

We must be fiscally responsible and not spend money in areas that are not crucial to our survival and well-being. That being said, county budget revenues are driven mostly by property taxes which are for the most part a stable source. We have also received CARES ACT monies which should be used to support our local economy and projects for sustainability and community health.

What specific solutions do you propose to combat homelessness?

The housing crisis extends far and wide, requiring both affordable housing and attention to the homeless. Working with the homeless is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Kauaʻi County has identified the need for a range of housing types for persons with mental disabilities, substance abuse, and debilitating illnesses; and then there are those that have experienced a tragedy or life-event that was economically crippling.

We need to actively support and provide rehabilitation programs such as a drug treatment facility and services for the mentally ill. These should include transitional and group home facilities with medical and other support services.

I support the development and expansion of shelters to increase temporary housing for the houseless and other at-risk populations. For the economically homeless, financial assistance coupled with counseling and money management training can get individuals and couples back on their feet. We should prioritize resources for houseless families with children, youth, women, veterans, and people with disabilities.

I would also take a hard look those newly arriving on Kaua’i with a one-way ticket, no money and no place to stay. They arrive on our island simply to get a free handout and live off our limited resources. Many of these “tourists” become part of our homeless problem.

Do you support reforms to policing in Hawaii? If yes, please explain what reforms you support.

Where most of the world has a 6 degree of separation, we on Kaua’i have closer to a 1.5 degrees of separation. What this means is we all know each other or someone close. We are careful about how we treat each other. This isn’t the mainland. This is Kaua’i. I applaud the work our officers are doing on Kaua’i.

Is there anything more that you would like voters to know about you?

I am a local boy with a Notre Dame Education. I’ve been living on Kaua’i for more than half my life and created a successful Mobile Dj business, Kustom Sounds Kauai. My mission is to lead Kaua’i in a direction of self reliance. We cannot count on tourism to save us. We need to start on a path of serious sustainability, now. My vision of Kaua’i moving forward is an independent, self-sustaining, locally-owned business driven, healthy, environmentally conscious community.