Remove ImagesUpfront News
Candidate Mike Victorino
October 11, 2012
Running against: Joseph G. Blackburn II
Birthplace: Hilo, HI
Profession: Incumbent
Electoral Win/Loss Record: 3/0
First electoral victory: 2006
Supports: Land development, organized labor
Opposes: Keeping Lipoa Point in preservation
Gets campaign donations from: Operating Engineers Local 3 PAC, Hawaii Laborers' and Employers' Coop. and Ed. Trust, ARDA-ROC PAC, Plumbers & Pipefitters PAC, Hawaii Carpenters PAC, developer Charlie Jencks, A&B Inc. PAC, A&B representative Mercer "Chubby" Vicens, developer Stanford Carr, Goodfellow Brothers
Mike Victorino is a nice enough guy who has worked for a variety of nonprofits and undoubtedly is sincere in wanting to maximize Maui's quality of life. The problem is that he clearly feels that what's best for the big land developers and unions is best for the island. Case in point is Victorino's recent vote to approve Maui Land & Pineapple Company's request to remove Lipoa Point from preservation. There are few spots on the island that enjoyed such popular support for preservation, but with little warning and virtually no debate, Victorino helped a major landowner–which had long promised to keep Lipoa Point as it is–simply move it into the build category. What's most interesting is whether that vote, which angered a great many people on the island, will affect either his current reelection hopes in the short term or any mayoral aspirations he might have for the future.