In 1988 Maui County eliminated political party participation in county elections so that individuals could run without political affiliation and focus on individual qualification.

Both Maui Ohana and Hui O Maui are specifically political parties with specific agendas and vying for county council control.

Presently, Maui Ohana has a majority. The specific case in both instances is both groups endorse and advertise these candidates as a block, encouraging people from all over the island to vote for them.

All these candidates should be disqualified running together rather than as individuals.

This type of behavior should be called out as a violation of the spirit of the 1988 act, if not an outright violation. Further, the law banning parties should be clarified and expanded to include any groupings.

The fact is clear; they have a collaborative organization. Call it anything you want. It is acting clearly as a political party to promote a specific agenda.

While we are on the topic of elections, why are people in other districts being allowed to vote on a representative of a different district other than their own?

Alan S. Wallace

Kihei