HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.081 2020-2022 From: Bhagavan Buritz
Seat: Friday, January 15, 2021 2:12 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: RE: Appointment of Zendo Kern, Planning Director - Comm. No. 44
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAIII
Aloha kakou, RECEIVED
Time 2'f2 3
I support the nomination of Zendo Kern as County Planning Director. Date d 5 2021 3
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He is born and raised on the Big Island. Being a haole boy in Pahoa schools taught Mr. Kern how to get along with
everyone, which is an Hawaiian art form. Mr. Kern grew up in a financially challenged family, started working at a i
young age and became an entrepreneur and eventually specialized in "green" construction.
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This real world experience, to me is more valuable than a bunch of degrees, which is often only easy to obtain for the
more affluent part of our society. An elite education is not everything; I know because I have one and some of my
college classmates are in many ways idiots.
Mr. Kern helped the little person with their planning needs and has successfully helped them navigate through the
County's complex land use regulations. This means he understands both the rules and how things work this clearly
attests to his knowledge of the planning process and regulations. This practical experience shows that he is qualified
to serve as Planning Director. Also, Mr Kern started his own green contraction business. Contracting requires leading
and getting along with all kinds of people and government entities. A good Planning Director needs to be a good
leader.
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Mr. Kern's willingness to help the "little guy" is refreshing. Instead of "Don't bother me, I am too busy" or "I will
answer your question, but I will not really help you, ha, ha", he brings a welcomed and much needed, "hello, how can
1 help you" kind of culture to government service.
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Any person who worked in the private sector is vulnerable to conflicts when transitioning to the public sector. In fact
any person in the public sector is vulnerable to outside influences. That is why the county requires an annual ful l
financial disclosure statement and has an ethics requirement in the Charter and ordinance. These are protections
against corruption. To deny Mr Kern or anyone the opportunity to serve our county based on one's past business
association with former clients removes a whole pool of excellent people from government service and can appear
discriminatory. The real question about Mr. Kern and anyone in the public sector, "is this person honest and
honorable?" For Hawaii, we can ask, Can this person kolwa with aloha?"
I would love to see some entrepreneurial spirit in the Planning Department, led by a kama'aina who started his life in a
humble way and pulled himself up by his construction bootstraps. I believe that Mr. Kern is a leader with the
emotional intelligence, the humility, honesty, experience and knowledge to be an outstanding Planning Director.
Yours truly,
iihagavan S. Buritz
Comm. N LK
Ref. To: G
1 Ref. gate_ JAN 9 2021,