MayorCompare
Compare mayoral candidates
Positions for the Maui County mayoral race. Three profiled candidates by default. Toggle the full field on desktop. Each cell summarizes the candidate’s position in their own framing.
| Issue | Bissen | Sugimura | La Costa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill 9 (STR phase-out) | Introduced and signed it; defends conversion of apartment-zoned TVRs. | Dissenting vote; would not repeal but seeks to limit economic damage. | Day One repeal + Homes Together; redirect ~$65M STR property taxes to local buyers/renters (campaign). |
| Permitting | Cleared DSA backlog to 51 reviews; ongoing reform. | Self-certification: build starts if permit not issued in 60 days. | 30-day county clock + public dashboard; pre-approved Lahaina commercial shells; zero fire-rebuild fees (campaign). |
| Housing approach | Supply + STR conversion; 880+ affordable homes delivered since 2023 (administration reporting). | Pipes, permits & pavement: infrastructure-first housing. | Homes Together: down-payment grants, rental stabilization; repeal Bill 9 to keep STR tax base for locals (campaign). |
| Water | Water as public trust; bring systems under public ownership. | Water infrastructure as part of pipes/permits/pavement. | Accelerate Upcountry capacity; publish dated meter waitlist milestones (La Costa Cures / campaign). |
| Lahaina recovery | Defending administration pace; Office of Recovery; federal relief secured. | Critiques sequencing: wants businesses rebuilt alongside homes so jobs return with residents. | Front Street Recovery Desk, 30-day clock, public dashboard; expand CDBG-DR revitalization (campaign). |
| Economy / fiscal | Housing-first tradeoff: defend Bill 9 goals while managing revenue impacts and recovery spending. | Protect tax base and fiscal discipline; diversify beyond tourism; minimize Bill 9 economic damage. | Cost Cutter: fuel-tax holiday, forensic audit, return excess revenue; ties STR taxes to Homes Together (campaign). |
Bissen
Introduced and signed it; defends conversion of apartment-zoned TVRs.
Sugimura
Dissenting vote; would not repeal but seeks to limit economic damage.
La Costa
Day One repeal + Homes Together; redirect ~$65M STR property taxes to local buyers/renters (campaign).
Bissen
Cleared DSA backlog to 51 reviews; ongoing reform.
Sugimura
Self-certification: build starts if permit not issued in 60 days.
La Costa
30-day county clock + public dashboard; pre-approved Lahaina commercial shells; zero fire-rebuild fees (campaign).
Bissen
Supply + STR conversion; 880+ affordable homes delivered since 2023 (administration reporting).
Sugimura
Pipes, permits & pavement: infrastructure-first housing.
La Costa
Homes Together: down-payment grants, rental stabilization; repeal Bill 9 to keep STR tax base for locals (campaign).
Bissen
Water as public trust; bring systems under public ownership.
Sugimura
Water infrastructure as part of pipes/permits/pavement.
La Costa
Accelerate Upcountry capacity; publish dated meter waitlist milestones (La Costa Cures / campaign).
Bissen
Defending administration pace; Office of Recovery; federal relief secured.
Sugimura
Critiques sequencing: wants businesses rebuilt alongside homes so jobs return with residents.
La Costa
Front Street Recovery Desk, 30-day clock, public dashboard; expand CDBG-DR revitalization (campaign).
Bissen
Housing-first tradeoff: defend Bill 9 goals while managing revenue impacts and recovery spending.
Sugimura
Protect tax base and fiscal discipline; diversify beyond tourism; minimize Bill 9 economic damage.
La Costa
Cost Cutter: fuel-tax holiday, forensic audit, return excess revenue; ties STR taxes to Homes Together (campaign).