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* This is the fifth in a series of stories on candidates who will be on the ballot for Maui County Council and state legislative seats in Maui County. In Friday's Maui News, the featured race will be for the Upcountry residency seat on the County Council.

Maui's economy may be in a slump, but Maui County Council candidate Kai Nishiki hopes that won't scare people away from voting for her tough stance on resorts and development.

While her opponent for the council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, four-term incumbent Mike Molina, takes a cautious approach to proposals he thinks could hurt Maui's biggest industries, challenger Nishiki said she wants to represent the little guy - not big business.

Nishiki calls for increasing requirements on developers, more county involvement in affordable projects, and prioritizing funding for social services.

Molina's plan is for more support for tourism and business, and expediting capital improvement projects. He said social programs and grants could be one area the county cuts funding in a tight budget year.

The contest comes as unemployment is up and county tax revenues are down.

"I do think people are fearful," Nishiki said. "But it's important not to make major decisions based on fear."

Molina said the economy would be his top issue.

The county should work with the visitor industry to promote tourism, especially in niche markets, and he said he would ask the mayor to convene a task force on tourism, adding that the county should continue to fund the Maui Visitors Bureau at $3.5 million per year.

"That is one entity I would be hesitant to cut," Molina said.

He said the county should expedite capital improvement projects, improving infrastructure and creating work for the building industry.

"This may be a good time to take advantage of possible lower bids due to the construction slowdown and reasonable interest rates resulting from Maui County's sound financial standing," he said.

Molina also said he'd consider a gas tax cut or "holiday."

"A key component of the economy is the cost of gas," he said.

Nishiki said the county needs to take a more active role in developing affordable housing, such as by providing land or developing infrastructure for projects.

While the county work force housing ordinance already requires developers to provide affordable homes, cash or land before their projects can go forward, Nishiki said the county should use its leverage in approving development to get more land for affordable housing.

"We should be asking for large amounts of donated land," she said.

She also called for property tax reforms, including changes to the circuit breaker tax credit program. The circuit breaker currently allows homeowners to cap their property tax bill at 2 percent of their annual income. Nishiki said the program should set a flat rate, and should be applied automatically to anyone who qualifies.

"Why do we need them to come in and file paperwork for this?" she asked.

She also called for a separate, lower property tax rate for farmers of small agricultural properties.

Nishiki, who runs a business baking fruit breads for sale in stores and for nonprofit fundraisers, said Molina's actions on the council showed he was more responsive to resorts and development than the average citizen.

Earlier this month, Molina joined other council members in voting to send a bill restricting outdoor irrigation back to committee. Dozens of hotels and golf course managers had protested the water-conservation measure, saying it would hurt their businesses.

Nishiki said she would have supported the bill.

"If our residents are going to be asked to cut back, it's only fair for hotels to embrace this idea of conservation," she said.

Molina said the bill needed more discussion. He said Maui's biggest industries were too important to ignore.

"I look at it from an economic standpoint," he said. "They're the economic engine of our island. We need to listen to what they have to say."

Nishiki said the tourism and construction industries had too much influence on the council.

"Who's the advocate for the working-class people of Maui?" Nishiki asked. "I want to be that person."

Molina pointed to his record, which includes securing funding for a Haiku fire station, road improvements in Piiholo and Olinda, and the Paia minibypass.

"Where was her voice?" he asked.

* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@ mauinews.com.