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Maui County
Better Know A Candidate
Lance Collins
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October 12, 2006
Running for: County Council seat representing Kahului
Occupation: Attorney
MAUI TIME WEEKLY: Why should people vote for you?
LANCE COLLINS: I'm the only
attorney running for city council. I'm young, and have a lot of legal
training and education. And I can help envision a future for our
children and grandchildren.
What's the biggest problem facing your district?
Lack of affordable housing, both ownership and rentals.
What do you intend to do about this?
Insist that the county hire accountants, a tax attorney, and grant
writers so the county can facilitate private capital to help with
government funds for affordable housing.
Where do you think Maui will get its water in 10 years?
I actually think we have enough water for our needs. It's a matter of getting better distribution and cutting waste.
Now at a recent Maui Community
College candidates' forum, you said, "The planning commission has let
you down" in regards to holding developers accountable for
infrastructure improvements to West Maui. What can voters do to hold
them accountable?
Voters should insist the county council and mayor not allow
development without upgrades. We need highly qualified people on the
council who know the laws and will enforce them. 
Does that make you the ideal candidate?
I don't think you have to be a lawyer to enforce the codes! What you
need to do is just not approve building commission members en masse.
The county needs to take responsibility and question people.
Is it time for a moratorium on development?
Well, we have 21,000 units that have already been approved. But we
don't need to be approving much more, and we need to insist that future
developments have concurrent infrastructure upgrades.
What are your feelings on Hawaiian Sovereignty?
Well, I have a Master's degree in indigenous politics, so I could
ramble on for hours! There are certainly questions of legitimacy in the
incorporation of the Hawaiian nation into the United States.
How about the proposed Superferry?
Surreptitious decision-making.
How about tourism?
Mixed bag of social good and evil.
Pakalolo?
Hmm. I'm a little disappointed none of the ballot initiatives they wanted on there came through.
What's the most difficult thing that ever happened to you?
I used to be 315 pounds. I'm down to 175 now. I lost the weight
naturally. It was a lot tougher mentally than physically. The Honolulu
Advertiser may still have a photo online from when I was still Fatty
McFatFat.
Was seeing that picture the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
I'm not embarrassed of that picture because I was protesting tuition
increases. Actually, I was at a Hawaiian meeting, and we were supposed
to do a chant. There was only one word in the chant and I said the
wrong word. Everyone knew I did it and was like, huh?
What's the last book you read?
I try to read a book about every other day. The last was Nietzsche & Jung: Sailing a Deeper Night.
What's your favorite thing about Maui?
The natural environment. MTW
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