WAILUKU - Planning consultant Chris Hart has announced he will run for mayor of Maui County in 2010.
Hart planned to officially kick off his campaign at this week's First Friday event in Wailuku. He said he was motivated to enter the race because he wanted to oversee the implementation of the
county's updated General Plan. Hart is a former county planning director, and his firm, Chris Hart & Partners, was contracted by the Planning Department to draft the update proposal, which is now being reviewed by the Maui County Council.
"I would like to be mayor and implement the plan, and set forth the course for Maui's future," he said.
Mayor Charmaine Tavares declined to comment on the latest challenger to enter the race.
"I'm happy there are people interested in being in this office to help the community, and it's up to the voters," she said.
Former Mayor Alan Arakawa has also announced his campaign to reclaim his former office.
Hart said he had thought many times about running for public office.
"Now that I'm at an age where I should be thinking about doing something different, I think I could make a contribution at this point," he said.
His experience as a planner in the public and private sectors would be an asset, he said.
He said he also wanted to work with the Maui County Council to pursue changes to the county's "Show Me the Water" bill and work force housing requirements to give them "a more reasonable connection to reality." He said they can be too obstructive to development.
For example, he said, the water bill, which requires landowners to demonstrate they have a viable source of water before they proceed with their projects, is now a hurdle even for two-lot family subdivisions. Hart proposed raising the threshold to trigger the requirement so small projects would not be affected.
Hart, 68, spent 20 years in county government, including serving as planning director from 1986 to 1990 and director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns in 1985. He lives in Wailuku and is a member of the Democratic Party.
He is also a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army in 1967 to 1968.
A licensed landscape architect, Hart has owned his landscape design and development consulting business Chris Hart & Partners for 19 years. He said he plans to sell the company to his employees next summer.
Hart also owns the 2-year-old Dad's Donut Shop in Wailuku, but said he planned to continue his ownership of the business because he didn't think it would present a conflict of interest with his mayoral campaign.
* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@ mauinews.com.
