Mayor Mitch Roth has tapped residents with backgrounds in the island Fire Department, U.S. Marines and Army, as well as a forensic engineer, software engineer and meteorologist to serve on the Cost of Government Commission, and he’s looking for three more candidates.
“Our administration is hopeful that the Cost of Government Commission will encourage our residents to get involved and empower them to make direct recommendations to the county on how to best use their hard-earned dollars for the public good in the most effective way possible,” Roth said in a statement. “We don’t have all the answers, and a group of citizens who have the authority to examine government from a fiscal point of view will help us see things from a different perspective, ultimately improving our ability to serve. As public servants, we need to be held accountable, and we are excited to bring forth a commission that will be able to do just that.”
The county charter, which requires the commission be formed every four years for a one-year term, sets one commissioner from each County Council district as the board’s makeup. Currently, there are vacancies in Puna Council Districts 4 and 5, as well as Hamakua District 1.
Residents of those districts are encouraged to apply at https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions.
The mayor’s nominees face confirmation by the County Council. Six of the nine members are likely to be on the council Finance Committee’s Dec. 7 meeting agenda. The others will follow later. The commission is expected to start its work in January.
The commission is charged with investigating the organizations and methods of operations of all departments, commissions, boards, offices and other aspects of all branches of the county government and determine what changes, if any, may be desirable to accomplish the county’s policy.
The charter specifies that the policy of the county is to “promote economy, efficiency and improved service in the transaction of the public business in the legislative and executive branches of the county by: (a) Limiting expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient performance of essential services, activities, and functions. (b) Eliminating the duplication and overlapping of services, activities, and functions of a similar nature. (c) Consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar nature. (d) Abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of government.”
The mayor’s nominees to date:
District 2: Mattias Kusch, retired in 2020 as battalion chief of operations from the Fire Department and is currently self-employed in marine logistics and real estate, primarily affordable housing rentals. Kusch volunteers with EB DeSilva School, as president of the PTA and School Community Council, as well as president of Hilo Bayfront Trails Inc., and committee chair of the West Hawaii Fisheries Council.
District 3: George Espinosa, well versed in internal and external audits, served in the Marine Corps from 1982 to 2012, was deputy director of Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy from 2014 to 2017 and is currently President of Big Island Substance Abuse Council.
District 6: Kenneth Obenski, retired from a career in forensic engineering, specializing in accident reconstruction and failure analysis. He has written and published numerous technical books and articles on the topic and has appeared in federal and state court as an expert witness hundreds of times in multiple states. A U.S. Army veteran, currently a member of the Governor’ s Traffic Safety Commission and is Chairman of both the Hawaii Traffic Safety Council and the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. He previously served on the Hawaii County Transportation Commission. Obenski volunteers with the Rotary Club and is a columnist in West Hawaii Today.
District 7: Daniel Malakie III, a retired captain in the U.S. Army, where he served as a medical evacuation executive officer pilot from 2005 to 2013. He is currently employed by Paradise Helicopters as a pilot, and director of safety/operations, and is a safety auditor. Malakie holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and earned his master’s degree in business administration. He currently volunteers on the Kona General Aviation Committee and the Helicopter Association Safety Working Group.
District 8: Karie Wakat, retired in 2019 from IBM as a software engineer. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree in business information systems from the University of Phoenix. Wakat is a volunteer with several organizations, including Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center’s Reef Teach, Ocean Defenders Alliance, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
District 9: Michael Konowicz, a business owner, meteorologist and journalist, has a bachelor ‘s degree in environmental science and previously served on a local Environmental Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission on the mainland. Konowicz is a volunteer at World Vision, the American Cancer Society and the National MS Society.
Roth hopes the commission can fulfill the conservative goals of the administration.
“Since taking office almost a year ago, we have strived to be conservative in our spending by fundraising for significant initiatives and forging public-private partnerships to maximize outcomes,” Roth said. “We have also worked diligently to contain costs throughout the pandemic while ensuring that no critical services be reduced or eliminated.”