Yagong enters mayor race

By JASON ARMSTRONG

Tribune-Herald staff writer

HONOKAA — Surrounded by three generations of family members, County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong announced Saturday that he’s running for Hawaii County mayor.

“This is a really, really big day, important day, for me. I wanted to make an announcement with my family and do it in Honokaa,” the six-term Hamakua councilman said from his home. “Today certainly would not be possible without their support.”

Yagong was accompanied by his mother, Virginia, wife, Hilda, the couple’s four children, and granddaughter Jayda, 3.

“In August 2012, we are going to be on the ballot, and we are going to be running for mayor of Hawaii County,” the Honokaa native told the handful of media representatives who attended his informal press conference.

Yagong, 52, entered the 2004 mayoral race late and lost to then-Mayor Harry Kim.

“That’s no surprise,” Kim said Saturday when asked his reaction to Yagong’s announcement, which many political pundits have expected for months. “It seems like something that’s accepted that he’s going to run.”

Kim, 72, said he hasn’t decided whether to seek a third mayoral term, and that eventual decision won’t be influenced by Yagong’s plans.

In order to run, Kim said he needs family support and the belief that he can do the job.

“I’ve got to feel a passion, and I mean a passion, to consider the mayor’s job again,” said Kim, who left office in 2008.

Upset with the direction Mayor Billy Kenoi’s administration is taking Hawaii County, Yagong said Kenoi’s unwillingness to privatize the county’s little used $9.2 million Hilo recycling facility motivated him to challenge Kenoi for his job. Last month, the council adopted Yagong’s resolution urging the administration to solicit bids from companies Yagong has said want to run the sort station.

“That certainly was a definite tipping point to me where I said, ‘I need to do this,'” Yagong said of his decision to run for mayor.

Due to the county’s law limiting council members to eight consecutive years in office, Yagong is eligible to serve only one more term before he would have to surrender the council seat he’s held continuously since 2006. He previously served from 1996 to 2002.

“I believe that I’m the right man at the right time,” Yagong said. “I bring institutional experience, but I also bring independence.”

While touting his business-management background gained by running supermarkets for the past two decades, Yagong said Hawaii County needs a leader who will “go against the grain” by bringing a business approach to local government.

Understanding budgeting, controlling expenses, having a proper-size work force and remembering who the customer is are skills the mayor must possess, he said.

“I think it’s time that government is run like a business,” he said.

He referenced a Tribune-Herald cartoon that depicted Yagong as the taxpayers’ guard dog to spendthrift Kenoi over the issue of borrowing $56 million for various construction projects. Kenoi requested the borrowing approval, which Yagong fought.

Kenoi said he also was not surprised by Yagong’s decision to run for mayor.

“My statement is that I welcome Mr. Yagong to the mayoral race,” Kenoi said Saturday.

Kenoi, 43, said he’s looking forward to a positive campaign involving issues that are important to residents.

“We’re going to continue to work very hard and focus on serving the people of this island,” Kenoi said, noting he will continue his approach of reaching out to communities, staying positive and showcasing his accomplishments.

Asked for cost-cutting examples, Yagong vowed to reduce employee overtime, scrutinize contracts, reduce the amount of office space the county leases, and curb worker “entitlements” like use of county-furnished vehicles and cell phones.

“I will not look the other way when it comes to looking at things that need to be changed and things that need to be done,” he said.

But that likely will cost Yagong both union endorsements and campaign contributions when competing against Kenoi, who enjoys a more worker-friendly reputation.

Yagong said that doesn’t bother him, noting he’s never received union backing yet is undefeated as a council candidate.

“I don’t want to make this campaign about money,” he said. “I’m sure my opponent will have money falling from the sky.”

As of June 30, 2011, Yagong’s war chest had a $357 deficit, while Kenoi showed a $59,131 balance, according to the latest campaign spending reports each filed with the state. New reports covering the second half of 2011 are due by Jan. 31.

Although he chose not to list a specific fundraising goal, Yagong indicated that he plans to raise and spend well less than $500,000, which he called a “ridiculous” amount.

“My campaign has never been about money,” Yagong said, adding he’s turned down mayoral donations because prior to Saturday he was not a candidate.

Candidates who wish to remain independent can’t be accepting large donations, he said.

Asked if there’s anyone he won’t take money from, Yagong didn’t cite any would-be donors he’d turn down.

Earlier this month, Yagong was involved in the decision to fire three county election workers — a fourth was fired previously — over allegations of a Hilo elections warehouse was used to store alcohol and run a private business in violation of county laws.

As mayor, he vowed to be fair to county employees and take care of them, but also to deal with any inappropriate behavior.

“A lot of times that hasn’t happened in county government. That breeds a culture of entitlement,” Yagong said.

Email Jason Armstrong at jarmstrong@hawaiitribune-herald.com.