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Council member advances personal agenda in column

Of all the charter proposals that Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura mentioned in her “Chair’s Three Minutes” (The Maui News, June 24), the only one that she addressed in detail was the one she opposes. I had always considered this courtesy column to be a place for an update, not for advancing personal agendas.

The proposal calling for a qualified professional county manager should be an idea embraced by all voters and elected officials interested in better government for Maui. There was misinformation and bias strewn across the paragraphs devoted to her effort to sideline efforts to allow the people of Maui to make the decision to have a less politicized way to manage our budget.

Making statements that would imply there will be an increase in costs for this position, which would replace one that is currently costing us almost as much and should realize substantial savings as departments are professionalized, is wrong. There were facets of changes to the charter that were intentionally distorted from the proposal before her committee.

The mayor is relieved of the day-to-day oversight of departments, not relieved of ultimate responsibility. Having competent professionals will save money and allow planning and implementation that cannot be accomplished with the current system.

The next chance to testify on the proposed charter amendments was announced as July 2, not 6. If you have any interest in finding a better way to govern Maui, verify the date of the next Policy, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee meeting and make your opinion known.

Marjorie Bonar

Pukalani

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