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Ronald Overmann, Ph.D. RR2Box4743 James V. Setta, JD KehenaBeach,H196778 808-965-0239 ca (7 ~ C? ~ 27 January, ] 997 ~ ~ w ~ o ( ~ The Honorable James Arakaki -Chairman ~ ~ I i s= & Members of the County Council ~ ` 25 Aupuni St. `D" cn Hilo,HI 96720 Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council: We are writing in support of Mayor Yamashiro's nomination of Virginia Goldstein to continue in her post as Director of the Planning Department in the County of Hawaii. We do so based primarily on our experiences going to her for advice, information and guidance in our efforts to allow HELCO to bring electricity to our subdivisions in lower Puna. We are active participants in "H.O.P.E." -Home Owners Preferring Electrification - in the subdivisions of Kehena Beach, Puna Palisades and Seaview. We have been confronted with obstinate opponents of choice in electrical sources, especially the Friends of the Red Road (FORR). FORR won its suit blocking HELCO temporarily from bringing electricity to our area because of the failure of the Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works from carrying out his responsibilities in the review of the Environmental Assessment which HELCO had submitted. Based on our interactions with Ms. Goldstein, such a failure to carry out her responsibilities would never happen under Ms. Goldstein's direction. She is demonstrably a responsible, intelligent, fair, and knowledgeable civil servant. She knows her job, she knows what needs to be done to carry it out, and she informs citizens who make inquiries of her how things must be done. This is obvious to all, whether you ultimately agree with her or not. Further, she has been courageous in advancing innovative ideas to move forward the development of the County in a rationale manner. These efforts entail presenting to the Planning commission and the County Council reasoned approaches to the problems confronting our Island. r,:,n~~, nt~. j pal. O 1 Presented-~G F_ef. t?xte 3 0 1997