KAHULUI - A panel of University of Hawaii Maui College students hosted a televised election forum with candidates running for Maui County Council, state House District 9, and state House District 11 on July 11.
The show was broadcast live from on MCTV Cable Channel 55, and will continue to be periodically shown until primary election night. Pacific Radio Group will also air excerpts from the program on its Internet news and information site at www.mauinow.com.
One goal of the election forum was to encourage students to take a deeper look at the issues facing Maui County, and engage in the voting process.
Article Photos
Fred Guzman moderates a panel discussion between UH-MC students Uvette Sakamoto (from left), Emilie Howlett and Stephanie Harrison and Maui County Council candidates on July 11.
"This is a great event for students to get involved with," said UH-MC student Emilie Howlett. "I knew that if I joined the panel, it would give me the push I needed to learn more about local politics."
Malia Davidson, program director of Liko A'e and student coordinator of the event, said, "Students brought their academic research into a living classroom on live television for all to experience and to ponder as they prepare to go to the polls. Each candidate was exposed to UH-Maui students and the quality education that these students received right here. This was a great opportunity for all of us, students, candidates, and our Maui County community."
Forum topics ranged from national issues such as GMO labeling and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to county-specific issues including affordable housing, the reclassification of land use from agricultural to residential, and the efficient uses of Maui's budget and resources.
Fred Guzman from Pacific Radio Group was the moderator. Candidates who participated included Gil S. Keith-Agaran, Joe Pontanilla, Netra Halperin, Colin E. Hanlon, Kaniela Ing, Joseph Blackburn, Lisa Gapero, Michael Victorino, Alan Fukuyama, Don Guzman and Erin McLaughlin.
