Matt Mano

Party: Nonpartisan

Age: 55

Job: County of Mau'i, Wastewater Treatment Plant worker w/ certified license.

Born in Lana`i City, Hawai`i. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: Lana'i City

Contact: 808 563-0506, matt@mattmano.org

Web site: www.mattmano.org

Job history past 10 years:
Same as above.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
N/A.

Other civic experience or community service:
Mau'i County Planning Commission, Governor's Advisory Council, UPW Vice-President Mau'i Div., 2007-2009 UPW Negotiation Chair.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
Born and raised on the island of Lana'i. Graduated Lana'i High and Elementary School, June 1970. Military Service 3 yrs., Vietnam Veteran.

1) Why are you running for office?
I run for Mau'i County Council, Lana`i District, because I believe I can make a difference. Too often statements and promises are made but not kept. The promises I make will be formed by the concerns of the voters of Mau`i Nui which includes Mau`i, Moloka'i and Lana'i.

2) How should the county respond to sagging tourism, recent layoffs and other economic concerns?
In my own opinion, I believe that we first need to look at a global view point. Due to the question at hand, fuel prices are causing low numbers in our tourist industry resulting in air fare prices to go up. The federal, state and county agencies needs to work on a visionary plan to ensure that the future of our county will continue to have a stable economic growth.

3) What should be done to ensure adequate water supplies on Maui?
Restrict water usage for irrigation purposes on homes, hotels, road ways, multi-million dollar homes within our county. Implementing automatic sprinkler systems to turn on after sunset and before sun rise, with a time limit no longer than 20 min. to 1/2 hr. We the county needs to find funding to implement more usage of our recycled water that our wastewater plants are producing on a daily basis.

4) How should the county deal with transient vacation rentals?
Speaking for Lana'i, we are a unique island that depends on our TVR's because of our high cost of hotel room prices. Majority of our TVR's are used for housing families that comes for graduation, weddings, baby luaus, funerals, family reunions etc. and also used for non-resident hunters that comes to our island. County of Mau'i and it's council members are implementing a plan at this time.

5) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Maui County, and what would you do about it?
Fuel Cost. Education and research are being implemented at this very moment for a green Mau'i County which is going forward to develop sustainable energy in wind generated farms, wave generated power, viotech solar farms, etc. Other potential sources of power need to be explored and supported. Development of a storage containment facility is needed for the future of our county due to our fuel cost

6) What's the No. 1 initiative you would pursue in 2009?
Affordable housing. It is necessary for affordable housing to go forward for future generation of young people who wants to return home due to the cost of housing which is on the market is quite impossible for anyone to afford. Water conservation is a great concern not only in Maui but within the whole state. Future usage needs to be monitored to ensure a quality of life for generations to come.