Smooth board elections seen

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

With the exception of a confrontation in Manoa, the 2003 Neighborhood Board elections are progressing smoothly with former "hot spots" becoming less contentious than in previous years, according to the Neighborhood Board Commission.

"This will be the most uncontentious race in Hawai'i Kai history," said Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board chairman Charlie Rodgers.

Every two years the city holds elections for its 32 neighborhood boards on O'ahu, sending residents thousands of ballots, which must be returned by April 21.

"The majority of the people tend to vote within the first two or three weeks of receiving a ballot," said Elwin Spray, elections assistant with the Neighborhood Commission office. "Everyone should have received their ballot by now."

With less than a month left to return ballots for the board elections, about 20 percent, or 40,000 people, have voted so far, Spray said, but with fewer candidates and the many uncontested races the low numbers are not unexpected.

A total of 531 people filed for 444 board seats on O'ahu for a two-year term beginning June 1 and ending May 31, 2005 — the lowest number of candidates since 1998. The board's role is advisory only and members are volunteers.

Manoa is the "hot spot" this election. A group of residents has formed The Manoa Dog Coalition with two goals — establish a dog park in the valley and defeat board member Michael Kliks' bid for re-election.

The coalition said that Kliks has been harassing — even attacking — people who walk their dogs in the district park and at Noelani Elementary School, and they have printed and distributed fliers supporting the three other candidates in sub-District 1. There are three seats in the sub-district and four candidates including Kliks.

Kliks said he has not attacked anyone and he is not against a dog park but doesn't want one on public property. Kliks said he is simply keeping track of people who bring pets into the park and school, not harassing them. He said there is a serious health problem with allowing dogs in public areas where children play and he wants it stopped.

Kliks has printed a flier of his own stating his positions on community issues and delivered it to area homes.

At the February Manoa board meeting, a coalition member stepped to the microphone to discuss its contention that Kliks has been representing himself in an official capacity as a "board member" when approaching people with dogs, but was quickly ruled out of order by chairman Tom Heinrich.

A shouting match ensued and now the coalition is also campaigning to oust Heinrich because they feel he obstructed their right to publicly debate the issue.

Tom Berg, a first-time candidate running for a seat on the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board, said the district has been restructured into two areas — the south comprising old 'Ewa, and the north including the newer communities. Five people are running for the five seats in the old area and seven people are running for the six seats in the new area, meaning almost everyone will be elected.

Berg said it used to be 25 people running for nine seats, which made it much more competitive. Also many of the "old guard" are not running this year, he said.

"There was no struggle, there was no pitting, there was no ticket so to speak or a contentious race because that whole flavor has been omitted," Berg said. "Fresh blood and a change of flavor."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.