Housel to seek state House seat

BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY

A former Leeward Planning commissioner announced his candidacy for state House Tuesday.

Fred Housel, 67, said he decided to run for the House District 6 seat after the state’s Reapportionment Commission shifted district boundaries and created an open district. District 6 incumbent Denny Coffman’s home is now in District 5.

“We really need a responsible person in that district,” Housel said. “That’s why I’m stepping in.”

Housel, a Democrat, cannot formally file his candidacy until Feb. 1. He said his decision to run is dependent upon the district maps for House seats not changing; it was unclear Tuesday when the Reapportionment Commission will file its amended map, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated the commission’s original plan.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Housel spent 25 years working in Silicon Valley, in computer and network design and manufacturing. He and his wife, Barbara, retired to West Hawaii 10 years ago, where they founded Kiele O Kona Coffee Co.

Housel pointed to his community service experience — he served a two-year term on the Leeward Planning Commission and has been president and a board member of Community Enterprises, which runs the Kona Town Meetings, since 2006 — as reasons he would be a successful legislator.

“I’ve learned a lot about our community, what our needs are,” Housel said. “We’ve got a lot of challenges.”

Although he’s still deciding which issues would be his top priorities to address if elected, Housel said concerns include the high cost and slow progress of improving West Hawaii highways, the condition of state parks and harbors and ensuring the community college campus at Palamanui is completed.

Housel said he will step down from his leadership position with Community Enterprises while seeking election.

emiller@westhawaiitoday.com