My name is Norbert Perez and I am a Candidate for MAYOR of Maui County. I decided to enter the race for this prestigious position principally to offer my services to our people. My vast experiences will make a difference on how we move our islands forward into the FUTURE. As a Technocrat or a GEEK, having retired from AT&T International, I expect to become a motivating force in our Islands' direction toward Green Technology and Renewable Energy. I wholly support plans to install Wind Farms and PV Grids on Moloka'i and the proposed Cabling of that energy resource to Oahu. I do however wish to propose a secondary feed into the island of Maui to further reduce the cost-per-kilowatt to all County Resident. Many constituents have complained to me that when the 1st Wind Turbines were installed on the island that everyone's power bills would see a drastic reduction. To this date, Mauians have yet to experience that change in their power bills and that has been more than a decade ago. I must stress, however, that I am completely supportive of the residents of Moloka'i and their long-term interests and community goals. I will not allow them to be short-changed as before.

 

Additionally, I would like to see these Wind and PV Farms designed in such a way as to become aesthetic and possibly serve as a tourists attraction for the people of Moloka'i. Visitors can visit these sites as an educational tour, bringing national attention to our county's and state's GREEN TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS. It can become a functional site for a more agressive GREEN Technology and Renewable Energy Laboratory under the auspices of UH and MCC, similar to the National Laboratory in New Mexico.

 

My first order of business will be to extend a long-termed Lease Contract to the Maui Racing Association upcountry so they can construct a more permanent facility for their venue. They have been kicked around for over 50+ years and it must end.

 

I do support the enhancement of the MCC facilities to make it the next MIT of the Pacific. Of course, many political interests on Oahu and UH will fight me on this but I am ready and determined to bring many advancements to our county. If need be that we divest our association with the UH network, so be it. Doing so will be a financial PLUS for our county and our State.

 

I would like to christen a new GREEN TECHNOLOGY and ROBOTICS program for our youths and businesses. This idea is somewhat like sports training...."The more one trains, the more proficient one becomes. In Japan and Taiwan and other Asian countries, their little leaguers have year-round programs to prepare them for national and international play. I want to foster a similar mind-set but with Technology and science. Please read my Pacific Times Magazine article on 'The dumbing down of America'..... http://pacifictimes.tripod.com/hinatmi.html

 

I would like to see the Maui College initiate programs like a Game Design Degree for Virtual Reality Videos. I see our kids play video games everywhere. I am surprised why we have yet to offer them a long-term career goal with a college degree in the discipline. It is something they love and enjoy. I want to witness in my lifetime, some Maui boy or girl become the next Game Design Guru...like Steve Jobs of Apple Computers.

 

I realize that the County has added a value tax to the cost of fuel on Maui and I want that recinded. This value tax has added to our cost per gallon at the pumps and places an extra burden on our residents. In  a national and statewide depression, it makes better sense to recycle those monies back to the economy to stimulate growth and development throughout the county.

 

Please remember that these ideas are just those...IDEAS. I have more and more programs and they will be highlighted in the pages of this website.

 

Mahalo Nui Loa,

 

NORBERT PEREZ