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06-17-2010 - My word is “trust”

by Josh Levinson, Field Organizer

What’s your word?

Is it education? Is it work? Or energy? How about healthcare...housing...food?

With a little more than 90 days until the primary election on September 18, now is the time to decide what you believe is the most important issue in this election--not according to the candidates, not according to the media--according to you.

Is your word family? Is it aloha? Is it equality?

I started working on Neil’s campaign because, for me, the word is trust. My feeling is that each of our problems is pressing and important. I want to be confident that the person I vote for to be Hawaii’s next Governor will work tirelessly on behalf of the public interest--not just my problem, or yours, but all of the wide and varied challenges facing Hawaii.

Neil is the only one candidate I can trust with that responsibility.

Whatever issue you care about--be it literacy, poverty, keiki, or kupuna--you have to decide who you trust. Will that person govern based on personal ambition and be beholden to powerful special interests? Or is that person going to be a leader for all of us, no matter where we live, what we look like, and what matters to us most.

My word is trust.  And Neil Abercrombie is my candidate.

06-15-2010 - Statement from Neil Abercrombie on Mayor Hannemann’s Fundraiser in Pittsburgh

On June 10, Ron Mizutani from KHON2 reported a story about questions that had surfaced about the Honolulu Mayor's large campaign fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by a rail consultant.

Later, in a follow-up story, KHON2 reported that Mayor Hannemann was going to return all money taken from the $500 to $5000 per person event.

Neil Abercrombie released the following statement today on Mayor Hannemann’s June 9 fundraiser hosted by a rail transit consultant:
    “The people of Hawaii are tired of politics-as-usual. Mayor Hannemann’s fundraiser in Pittsburgh is typical of the politics that will be rejected this September by the voters. It was not a meet and greet session. It was a fundraiser organized and run by a rail transit consultant. But why would money collected be returned if it were a legitimate event as the mayor claimed?

    “The people deserve answers to many questions including: Was the trip to D.C. necessary or was it designed just to get to Pittsburgh while piggybacking on official city business? Why was there no proper notice to the Campaign Spending Commission? Why was the wrong date listed in the fundraiser’s filing? Why did an official city release say the mayor was meeting in D.C. when he was actually campaigning in Pittsburgh?

    “Having talked to people across Hawaii for over a year, I can tell you that this fundraising scheme is exactly the kind of politics they want to change. People want leadership that puts the public interest first.”

06-10-2010 - Neil’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Plan

Today Neil unveiled his plan to support the state’s small business sector by streamlining government processes and reforming procurement practices.

At the weekly meeting of the Downtown Honolulu Exchange Club at Oahu Country Club, Abercrombie emphasized the importance of entrepreneurs and small business.

Click here to read the full plan.

“For more than a year, I’ve been listening to small business owners as they struggle during these tough economic times,” Abercrombie said. “They are frustrated and have lost confidence in government. As Governor, I will lead the effort to support and promote our small businesses. It is critical to creating jobs in Hawaii and our economic recovery.”

Abercrombie’s plan includes six key points:
  1. Full review and refinement of regulation and permitting processes. A review and revision of all processes must be conducted with small business participation and the goal of supporting entrepreneurs. Government agencies that lack capacity or sufficient IT infrastructure will be upgraded.

  2. Governor’s clearinghouse for federal opportunities. Building on strong relationships with the federal government and collaborating with local banks and businesses, the Governor’s office will have a one-stop clearinghouse for local businesses to get help in securing grants, loans and other federal funds, and will also actively seek out new opportunities.

  3. Coordinated “Buy Local” effort. Government needs to take the lead in coalescing independent efforts to encourage people to support local businesses and measuring results. State and local government will lead by example by making every effort to buy local and keep dollars here in Hawaii.

  4. Protecting and marketing Hawaii’s brand. The Attorney General’s office will clamp down on protecting Hawaii’s unique brands so that local businesses can benefit from all their efforts to ensure the high quality and reputation of local products and services. Government will partner with businesses to coordinate “Hawaii Channels” that aggressively market products and services via the Internet, television and other media for global export.

  5. Teach business skills. Financial education must be a standard facet of everyone’s education with more opportunities to learn business skills, including management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship in our high schools, community colleges and universities. Government will partner with local businesses to provide hands on learning experiences and more opportunities by expanding internships.

  6. Procurement reform. We must have a government procurement system that is fair, based on merit, and free from political pressuring. A well-run and managed procurement system should follow the highest standards of conduct of the various trades, professions and industries to ensure quality and ethical behavior where the contractor and the general public mutually benefit. An Abercrombie Administration will create a level playing field for all.

“We have the talent and resources here in Hawaii, but we’ve never unlocked our full potential,” Abercrombie said. “Entrepreneurs are the ones willing to take calculated risks to overcome challenges. This plan will empower our small businesses and entrepreneurs to create a better future for their families and our state.”

This announcement of Abercrombie’s small business platform is the latest in a series of major policy positions from the Abercrombie for Governor campaign. Abercrombie has unveiled his plan for education reform, early childhood investment and energy independence.

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