Candidates for East Maui council seat agree on many policy issues
Robert “Bob” Carroll
Shane Sinenci
Robert “Bob” Carroll
Shane Sinenci
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DECISION 2016 EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another in a series of feature stories on contested races in Tuesday's general election. Stories will appear most days through Sunday. A complete look at all Maui County Council and state House contests was published as a special section in the Oct. 23 edition of The Maui News.
In the race for the East Maui residency seat on the Maui County Council, incumbent Bob Carroll and challenger Shane Sinenci find themselves sharing many priorities for the district they call home.
"I have a lot of respect for 'Uncle Bob,' '' Sinenci said. "He's done a lot for Hana. But I feel that the timing is right for a fresh perspective."
Sinenci, 49, is a special needs teacher at Hana High and Elementary School. He may be a first-time candidate, but he's no stranger to local politics. Sinenci got his first taste of public service six years ago when he became the East Maui representative for the 'Aha Moku Advisory Committee, which advises the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on issues related to natural and cultural resources. He also served on the Hana Advisory Committee to the Maui Planning Commission for two years and helped revive the Hana Community Association three years ago. Sinenci now serves as the association's co-chairman.
"My family has lived in Hana for generations," he said. "I really care about this community."
Sinenci decided to run for office in April and said the decision to go "all in" was inspired by his admiration for the Ohana Coalition candidates.
"I saw all of these like-minded candidates in this grass-roots movement who were bringing new ideas to the table," Sinenci said. "That's why I decided to run."
Sinenci said the guiding principle of his campaign is pupukahi holomua ("we must unite to move forward").
"I'm looking out for the interests of others, especially our children and our future generations," he explained. "This campaign is about them -- and it's about my love for my community."
Now eyeing his fifth and final term as council member, Bob Carroll, 72, has a list of things he'd like to see through in the next two years. Among other things, he would like to tackle affordable housing and rentals (he's an ardent supporter of self-help housing) and continue efforts to preserve open space.
Throughout his public service career, which spans more than four decades, Carroll has been an advocate for more accessible county services and facilities -- and people, too.
"Council members need to be accessible," he said. "You're never going to have confidence in government if you don't have access . . . transparency is built into accessibility."
Carroll puts his words into action: He often carries a notebook in his shirt pocket when he's out running errands so he can jot down constituents' concerns.
"If it's something I can't help them with, I'll direct them to someone who can," he explained. "And I'll follow up to see if things have been resolved."
When his phone rings, Carroll always answers -- even in the wee hours of the night.
"Helping people is one of the most enjoyable things about this job," he said.
Carroll lists land acquisition and securing truly affordable housing as two of his proudest accomplishments as a council member.
"I would put those two things at the top of the list," he said. "They've had the most impact."
If he's re-elected, Carroll said he would continue to work hard for Maui County and its residents.
"I not only listen, but I also take action," he said. "I will always be responsive to the community's needs."
Here's where the two candidates stand on a few of the issues affecting Maui County residents.
Infrastructure
You're guaranteed to get Sinenci's attention if you mention the word "infrastructure"-- it's his top campaign issue.
"We need to pour some money into our infrastructure," he said. "I've seen our public facilities go from bad to worse, and it's time to do something about it. That's what I plan to do if I'm elected."
Sinenci said that nearly all of Hana's county buildings and facilities -- including the oft-used Helene Hall and pavilion at Hana Bay Beach Park -- are in a state of disrepair.
"The paint is peeling. There's termites. . . . It's really bad," he said.
Investing in infrastructure would ensure a healthier visitor industry, which translates to a healthier economy, Sinenci said.
"Local government must have the foresight to accommodate an increasing number of visitors," he said. "There are no 'rest stops' on Maui. Our park bathrooms are the only public restrooms for our visitors . . . and as their hosts, we should have clean, functioning restrooms."
If he's re-elected, Carroll said he would continue to ensure county roads, bridges and -- pending a decision by the state Department of Transportation -- the Hana Pier are in working order.
"If they (DOT officials) leave the posts, it can still be used as a fishing pier," he said. "That's what I'd like to see."
The Transportation Department has begun the process of taking down the pier for safety reasons. The department nixed plans to repair the pier in January, after strong opposition from residents who worried that a new pier would bring commercial activity to Hana. The department is planning to leave the piles in place to avoid disturbing the coral that has grown around the piles.
Carroll said the restrooms at Hana Beach Park are adequate, and the parks department is working on the park's sewage system. "It's a work in progress," he said.
Carroll agreed that some of Hana's facilities could use some tender loving care, particularly the decades-old Hana Community Center. "These are old buildings, but they're in surprisingly good shape," he said. "However, they do need some work."
Major repairs to the center's commercial kitchen are underway and electrical work, painting, roof repair, a sprinkler system and other general maintenance items are on the horizon, Carroll said.
Preserving open space
Both candidates agree that it is imperative to preserve open space, especially along Maui County's shoreline.
"Our quality of life depends on preserving our open spaces," Sinenci said. "We have to protect them for our future generations."
If elected, Sinenci said he would work alongside county and state agencies, public land trusts and federal programs to preserve and maintain open space.
"I will also work to keep the quiet lifestyle alive and continue our fishing customs and traditions," he said.
Land preservation is something Carroll takes very seriously. "We must do everything we can to preserve it," he said. "Once it's gone, it's gone forever."
Carroll cites the success of other preservation deals, including the county's purchase of 75 acres in Hana, 100-plus acres in Waihee and 267 acres in Peahi, as evidence that it can and should be done.
"We need to keep our eyes open, and if an opportunity presents itself, especially on shoreline lands, we need to do it," Carroll explained. "There's a lot of open shoreline land -- but it won't last if we don't do anything about it."
Community plans
When it comes to community plans, Sinenci and Carroll agree that "community" is the operative word.
"I will work to empower individual communities so they will have more of a say in the planning of their own community," Sinenci said. "I will make sure that each community is represented in the Planning Department."
The county cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach to plan for individual communities, Sinenci explained. "What works for one area won't work for another," he said. "We have to look at each community individually."
Carroll, who recognizes every community plan as a "binding, valid document," said he would support any effort to make the community plan process more effective.
"The community plans should always come first," he said. "The general plan must include all of the community plans as they came from the community."
Among other things, Carroll said the process of creating these documents should be as wrinkle-free as possible.
"The community needs more support, whether it be clerical or more input from expert people -- whatever it takes to make the process more effective," he said. "We shouldn't be toying with this; the community's efforts should be honored."
The community plan process has gotten attention in recent weeks with Mayor Alan Arakawa directing the Department of Planning to suspend work on upcoming community plans and to focus instead on revamping the county's long-range planning process.
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Robert "Bob" Carroll*
Age: 73
Birthplace: San Jose, Calif.
Residence: Hana
Occupation: Maui County Council member, since 2011
Political experience: Council member from 2001-2006
Military service: U.S. Army, 1962-65
Education: Hana High School graduate
Community service: Volunteer Hana community consultant, present; Hana Maui Trust Board president, 1992-present; Juvenile Justice State Advisory Board, 2005-13
Family: Married, two children
Shane Sinenci
Age: 49
Birthplace: Hana
Residence: Hana
Occupation: Special education teacher, 1994-present; Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate Kulia I Ka Pono instructor, 2000-present
Education: Teaching certification, Chaminade University of Honolulu; Bachelor of Architecture, University of Oregon
Community service: Hana Community Association board, 2014-present; Hana Advisory Committee to Maui County Planning Department, 2009-11; Special Needs Department head, Hana School, 2012-16; Hana School Safety Committee 2014-15; Hana 'Aha Moku representative, 2012-present
Family: Single
* incumbent