Maui County Mayor
Age: 52
Occupation: Council member
Years lived in area: Entire life
Education: High School equivalent
Experience:
•Councilmember (2011-current)
•Founder of Save Honolua Coalition
•A founding member of Faith Action for Community Equity -Maui •National Association of Counties (NACo) Environment, Energy, Land Use Steering Committee (2011-2012);
•NACo Agriculture, Rural Affairs Steering Committee(2013-2014); •The White House’s Governance Coordinating Committee (2015-2016)
•Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board (2016-2018)
Campaign Statement:
Top four priorities:
1) Affordable Housing/Rentals:
I am working on legislation that will reform our current criteria, by setting price caps on homes being constructed, instead of basing qualifications solely on income requirements; and will preserve affordability in perpetuity. We can accomplish these goals much sooner by producing county developed affordable housing, rather than relying on for-profit developers to produce what we desperately need now.
Plans for Affordable Housing include…
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- 1) Redefine “Affordable”
- 2) Increase Density Allowances
- 3) Construction on County Owned Land
- 4) County Funded Infrastructure
- 5) Managed Appreciation of Affordable Units
- 6) Bring Construction Costs Down by Streamlining Permitting Process
2) Pesticide free Maui County and integrated pest management: I am working closely with the Administration and Corporation Counsel on a prospective County pesticides free parks pilot program.
3) Pesticide buffer zones around schools and residential neighborhoods: I continue to be an advocate for the legislation that I introduced last term. I remain firm in my conviction that buffer zones are critical for the health and safety of our community.
4) Recycling program expansion island wide: I continue to advocate for and fund recycling programs countywide. I have been a devoted voice for responsible management and recovery of our waste resources. We have a kuleana to limit our waste and to repurpose as much of it as possible to boost landfill diversion.
“Aloha. As a councilmember for 8 years, I’ve consistently been your voice. As Mayor, I’ll continue to protect our environment, be transparent, appoint qualified directors and reprioritize spending to better serve our communities on Lāna’i, Moloka’i, and Maui.
I’ll diligently work for truly affordable housing and sustainable, regenerative agriculture.
My voting record indicates my unwavering commitment to representing our people over corporate interests.
Let’s bring The Voice of the People back to the Mayor’s office.”
Endorsements:
I am humbled and honored to be endorsed by the Sierra Club.
Local 5 (Hawaii’s Hospitality and Healthcare union)
Campaign contact:
www.electelle.com
ellekcochran@gmail.com
(808) 281-7709