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or if we don't want to accept it. The impression, again, I'm stressing this over and over again, I <br />know, but it was a take it or leave it attitude by the Planning Department. <br />CLARKSON: Thank you. I'd like to, if there are no further questions on this from any of these <br />people, if you could please stay seated, Mr. Carvalho, and ask, are there any other, just you two <br />members? <br />SURPRENANT: One other in the back. <br />CLARKSON: Yeah, let's just get to the bottom of this, if we can. Could all the members that <br />are present of the Steering Committee come up and let's kind of, basically, the question I'd like <br />to ask you, do you feel that you were pressured to finish this thing up now? Do you feel that you <br />could use more time to digest and review the changes, or do you think that it's the general <br />consensus of the Steering Committee that we proceed to act on this right away? <br />GOMES: Thank you, Chair Clarkson. <br />CLARKSON: Oh, I'm sorry, would you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm <br />to tell the truth on this matter before the Planning Commission? <br />GOMES: I do. <br />CLARKSON: Thank you. Please state your name and where you reside and proceed. <br />GOMES: Thank you. Farrah -Marie Gomes, current resident of Kamuela, however, born here <br />literally in this hospital and raised along the Hamakua Coast. If I could, I do address, I have <br />testimony provided, I'm probably Number 12 or 13 on the list, do you mind if I give my <br />testimony first and then we can come back because I do address some of these issues? <br />CLARKSON: Please do. <br />GOMES: All right, thank you. So, Farrah -Marie Gomes, a resident of Kamuela currently, born <br />and raised here in Hamakua, currently serving as the vice chancellor for student affairs at the <br />University of Hawaii at Hilo and served as the vice chair for the Hamakua Community <br />Development Plan Steering Committee. I actually also have the unique position of having been <br />involved with the Hamakua CDP from the vision and values phase where I worked with the <br />County Research and Development Department to be a liaison with the community and gathered <br />some of the feedback that went into developing the values and vision statement. So, coming a <br />little bit from that perspective, the input and feedback gathered in that phase is what actually <br />resulted in me submitting an application to serve on the Steering Committee. I do believe that <br />the feedback we received was representative of a cross-section of the community. If you think <br />about the geographic distribution along this regional area, it is much more diverse than one might <br />even imagine. To say it's rural is an understatement at best. So, at the time of the Steering <br />Committee beginning I was actually director of this facility, and I sought participation because I <br />felt I could adequately represent components of who I am and what I stand for as a result of <br />being raised in this community. I was born here literally. I am a product of the plantation life. <br />EXHIBIT A <br />19 <br />