HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.099 2020-2022 i
From: Mark Hinshaw
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 11:56 AM
COUNTY
CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF AZ®T
Subject: Zendo Kern's Appointment RECEIVED
Time r d.,
Date J I 1
Aloha Council...
1 am writing this in opposition to Zendo Kern's Appointment as Hawai'I County Director of Planning.
He went through staff in the short time he served on the County Council and I am not confident he will effectively be able to
serve as an administrator of over 50 people. His resume on public record doesn't effectively show his ability to lead a group of
people. He doesn't ever show having workers compensation insurance under his own license, so it's unclear how he could have
managed as many people as he indicates on his resume.
As a member of the Action Committee for the Puna CDP,the Planning Department is a critical position for shaping the island's
future and he doesn't have the technical expertise required. In recent years,we have had lawyers filling these positions, but
there are degrees in planning at universities for a reason? We don't even know for sure he graduated from high school. We
know he left Pahoa school in 10th grade, so this local boy act isn't in the traditional sense.
I am concerned he will be revising himself and continually facing ethics challenges through his tensile as planning department,
he will continually be relying on his staff with more skills than him, and how that will lend to pretty low morale in the Planning
department.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Ai�Ul 70Li..:
Mark Hinshaw
Comm. o.
Ref. wLiK
1 Ref. Date J N 1 9 2021