Full Name: Melvin Rapozo

Name on Ballot: Mel Rapozo

Age: 51

District: Kauai

Email Address: melrapozo@gmail.com

Current Job: Council chairman

Place of birth: Lihue

Campaign website: www.melforcouncil.com

Job history past 10 years:

County Council 2002-2008/2010-present

Owner of MPLSS 1997-present

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

1998: Lost election to Kauai County Council

2002: Won election to Kauai County Council

2004: Won election to Kauai County Council

2006: Won election to Kauai County Council

2008: Lost election to Kauai County mayor

2010: Won election to Kauai County Council

2012: Won election to Kauai County Council

2014: Won election to Kauai County Council

Other civic experience or community service?

Board member, Friends of Kauai Drug Court

Secretary, Hawaii State Association of Counties

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

Retired from Hawaii Air National Guard with 21 years of service

Served with Kauai Police Department from 1984-1997

What makes you qualified to be a Council member?

Born and raised on Kauai and very familiar with the issues facing Kauai. Have served on the Kauai County Council for 12 of last 14 years. Served various positions of leadership while on the Council and currently serve as the Council Chair.

What is your one big idea?

There is no “one big idea.” Kauai is facing many issues that must be dealt with. Efficiency, accountability and responsibility must be the focus of all leaders.

What steps can the Council take to reduce the county’s backlog of road repairs?

We need an accurate list of roads needing repair which prioritizes repairs based on need. Seek alternative sources of revenues to address road repairs. Divert unnecessary county expenditures to road repairs. Focus county resources on necessary repairs rather than on “nice to have” projects.

The Kekaha Landfill has about 10 years of life left. What alternative waste disposal methods should the county take up?

We need to identify alternative solutions to landfills, such as waste to energy, to address the landfill crisis on Kauai. We cannot continue to bury our trash as land is a finite resource. In addition to a robust recycling effort, converting our trash to energy/fuels is a sensible alternative.

What should the county do to help house the homeless on Kauai?

We need to provide a safe and healthy environment for our homeless population. We can do this by providing temporary shelters for those in need, in one central area, so that social services can be provided efficiently. Transition programs must be incorporated to assist the homeless get into homes.