CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT: Gladys Baisa – Candidate Maui Council, Upcountry

Gladys Baisa.

By Maui Now Staff

Gladys Coelho Baisa is a candidate for the Maui County Council, Upcountry seat.  She is among a list of 2 individuals identified as candidates on the 2014 ballot.

The complete list of candidates (in alphabetical order) includes: Gladys Coelho Baisa and Courtney A. Bruch.

Full Name: Gladys Coelho Baisa
Date & Location of Birth: Born 8/13/40 Pāʻia, Maui HI
Current Residence: 73A Hiwalani Loop Pukalani
Occupation: Maui County Council Chair
Elected offices held: Upcountry Seat Maui County Council 2006-present
Education: Maui High School, St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Maui Technical School, numerous Management and Financial Seminars and workshops
Community Involvement:  Past Member J. Walter Cameron Center Board of Directors; Member Kula AARP; Past Member Maui Community Alliance of Prisons; Member Kula Community Association; Past Member Kihei Community Association; Member Makawao Community Association; Past Member MEO Advisory Committee for BEST Reentry Program; Past Member Workforce Investment Board; Past Member Workforce Development Council, and multiple other community groups.
Family Status: Married to Sherman F. Baisa almost 50 years, with three children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren

Maui Council Candidate Questionnaire:

1. What is the number one issue facing the district you plan to represent? Why do you feel it warrants special attention and what will you do to resolve the issue? If you have more than one item, please elaborate.

Answer:  The number one issue facing my district is water. It has been the issue for generations. A lack of sufficient water to handle normal growth as well as immigration and the growing needs of the agriculture industry that is located in this district continues to be a challenge. Now that continuing to add names to the Upcountry Water Meter List has been discontinued and the Water Department is working to supply meters to the list, we are working to increase reliable capacity for the district and finding new ways to fund to the infrastructure that is required to increase reliable capacity without undue financial burdens on the residents and those who will possibly become eligible for meters. Council will be discussing in Water Resources Committee the possibility of using general funds to subsidize water revenues. This is a break from the traditional way financing is done but I believe will be necessary to accomplish reliable capacity and supply. Many of the eligible residents are not able to underwrite the cost of mainline extensions without subsidy.

2. What are your thoughts on Genetically Modified Organisms and do you foresee a compromise in the longstanding debate between agricultural use of GMOs and environmental concerns?

Answer: The GMO debate is a complicated one. There is a need to clearly define the issue. GMOs are a specific issue but when combined with other concerns becomes difficult to take a position on. The Council has not had the opportunity to discuss this issue in full and so to offer an opinion at this point is premature. I look forward to a full and complete discussion of all sides of it before making a decision as to how to vote on the specific legislation that will be proposed. I look forward to participating in the discussions, deliberation, and decisions and believe a compromise is possible.

***Candidate spotlight segments were compiled as a public service to further educate and inform Maui voters about the upcoming primary election on August 9, 2014, and the general election on November 4, 2014. The questionnaires  were distributed via mail following the primary election candidate filing deadline for select races affecting Maui County.  The responses do not reflect the opinion or position of Maui Now or Pacific Media Group.