|
MR. NAHALE -A: Just a quick follow up. Were you aware of this issue before you chose to
<br />run for office?
<br />MR. ENRIQUES: No, I thought two years was a good thing, because then if I didn't like it, I
<br />would be done. But, if you are really concerned about getting the job done like you should,
<br />then it can't be done in two years. You just start things and you won't see it happen, unless
<br />it's a real quickie thing. I think we all know how fast the County works, I'm learning that
<br />now. Things don't move as fast. There are a lot of things that have to get done; procurement
<br />rules, readings, it just takes a while to get projects done.
<br />MS. KAWAUCHI: Another follow up question. Although you listed many reasons for why
<br />it might be a good idea to extend to four -year terms, in terms of prioritizing the reasons,
<br />would you think that getting the job done, the promises you made during the campaign,
<br />making sure that those promises are fulfilled during your term; is that maybe one of the more
<br />important aspects of going for a four -year term?
<br />MR. ENRIQUES: As far as campaign commitments, for mine, mine was building
<br />relationships, wanting to see a change in the Council, in how they worked together and how
<br />they worked with the administration. That's an ongoing thing; you work at it every day.
<br />But, I think the real issue here is effectiveness in terms of what you want to do for your
<br />district in getting your projects done. The ability to stay on it, ride shot gun is the word that I
<br />used, because if you don't, the County has so much things on its plate; the department heads,
<br />the directors, they are bombarded by nine different councilmen, nine different districts
<br />concerns, they won't remember what we just talked about unless you call them. When I
<br />stepped on, there were about seven or eight projects that were about ready to lapse because
<br />nobody was looking after them. We did lose one issue that was heartbreaking, we lost
<br />$350,000 because it lapsed; nobody looked at it. There was free money coming down from
<br />the State, and our senior citizens were the ones that lost it. It was nobody's fault; there are
<br />just too many things. When you look at the list, for example Parks and Recreation, there are
<br />like three or four pages of projects and you have got to watch where yours is, and it is up to
<br />you to lobby that thing to move it up the list. Otherwise, it just sits there and doesn't get
<br />done. Anybody that is pushing their projects and riding shotgun on their projects has abetter
<br />chance. So, if I'm out in two years, and my project is down here, the next guy who is coming
<br />in doesn't pay attention to it, it will lapse too. So, the number one thing I think is, well riding
<br />shot gun on your projects and seeing it through, like I said, if I'm out in two years, the guy or
<br />gal coming in doesn't see the value in that project, it will just lapse, and we will have wasted
<br />that time.
<br />You have got to weigh that with educating the politician if he's new like me. Getting to be
<br />effective I have to build relationships with the people I will need to work with in each
<br />department. I know very little about the Finance, because I haven't dabbled in it yet. I know
<br />very little about the Environmental Management. I know a lot about Parks and Recreation,
<br />and maybe down the line, pretty soon, I will know a lot about Public Works. Again, two
<br />years, like I said, this has gone by like - - -I mean, I can't believe I got to campaign here again.
<br />I've got to go next month to that Fair Elections meeting thing that is coming up next month;
<br />I'm in that, it's just like crazy. So, as far as the priority, I think they are all equal up there as
<br />5
<br />
|