It’s 3 weeks into our “post-Lowell” recovery. I’m forced to pivot, AND I have the luxury of being able to do so, as my home, property, and family sustained only minor physical damage.

Many others, understandably, must remain focused on the here and now of survival, but those of us that can, must do both. We must continue helping our friends AND we must deal with the here and now issues of the day.

For me, “pivot” of course means begin focusing on policy, politics, and the upcoming elections.

The general election is on November 3rd. Ballots begin arriving in our mailbox on or about October 14th – less than three weeks from today.

Needless to say, every candidate is dealing with their own Hurricane Lowell experience and impacts, and standing on the highway saying “vote for me”, is not something the public would react well to at this particular moment in time – IMHO.

Campaign mailers will begin arriving in the mail, just before that critical October 14th date and continue through November 3rd.

The massive destruction caused by the surf, winds, rain, the ongoing recovery effort – make the choice for Mayor and Council all the more important.

Which Mayoral candidate is most capable of managing the multiple actions involved with juggling the County finances, begging and borrowing from the State and Federal government, granting of contracts (non bid and otherwise), and ensuring the quality of work meets standards?

What 7 individuals on the Council will provide the best new ideas, oversight, and support for the same daunting tasks?

Kauai needs a proactive council, one that will initiate and support new policy initiatives AND watch ever so closely how the money is spent.

A full-time County Auditor, is needed now more than ever before.

The amount of money soon to be flowing through the County in support of rebuilding roads, parks, and County buildings such as the Civic Center – will be in the hundreds of millions.

Rebuilding the technological infrastructure lost in the Civic Center fire will take specific expertise and time.

It is yet unknown how many records, permits, and applications – (both paper and electronic) in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Taxation, the Planning Department and others – were irretrievably lost.

Hopefully the vast majority of information contained in these departments had been “saved” electronically and backed up to the “cloud” on a daily basis and prior to the fire.

Ensuring a timely, consistent “information back-up mandate”, if not already in place, must be one of the first items on the new Council’s agenda. The Mayor can set this as administrative policy, but to absolutely ensure it actually happens, requires an actual ordinance initiated by the Council.

Working with KIUC and exploring the costs and benefits of “going underground” and “hardening” our main transmission lines must be a priority.

Expanding and incentivizing solar photovoltaic and water catchment systems for single family homes and businesses is a public policy discussion that needs to take place, at BOTH the State and County level.

Extending the property tax deadline now set at September 30, to allow Transient Vacation Rentals (TVR’s) the opportunity to convert to long term affordable rentals, and reap the benefits of that tax reduction is something that needs to happen now – ASAP.

Implementation of a “$500 gift card” program helping the unemployed, supporting locally owned small food establishments and farmers markets, similar to what occurred during COVID could provide important assistance to those who need it most.

Yes, the needs and the challenges of the coming months are formidable.

And the lions share of this work will fall upon the shoulders of the new Mayor and Council who will be sworn into office on December 1, 2026.

It’s up to us as citizens to also ACTIVELY engage and support our new Mayor and Council.

We must show up, suggest ideas, provide community oversight, and both support and applaud the positive while shining a light and calling out the shortcomings.

This is what Democracy looks like – all of us working together towards the common good.

We got this.