Representative Cynthia Thielen
- Hawaii State Capitol Yearbook 2009
- Representative Isaac Choy
- Representative Henry J.C. Aquino
- Representative Lyla B. Berg
- Governor Linda Lingle
- Representative Cindy Evans
- Senator Les Ihara, Jr.
- Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
- Representative Gilbert Keith-Agaran
- Representative Joey Manahan
- Representative Chris Lee
- Representative Barbara C. Marumoto
- Representative Mark M. Nakashima
- Representative John M. Mizuno
- Representative Marcus R. Oshiro
- Senator Brian T. Taniguchi
- Senator J. Kalani English
- Representative Jessica Wooley
- Representative Gene Ward
- Senator Norman Sakamoto
- Representative Cynthia Thielen
- Senator Fred Hemmings
- Representative Karl Rhoads
- Senator Colleen Hanabusa
- Senator Josh Green
- Representative Roy M. Takumi
- Senator Will Espero
50th Representative District
Phone 808-586-6480; fax 808-586-6481
repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov
http://www.cynthiathielen.com/
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this session?
“Thanks for asking. Biggest accomplishment—renewable energy. Co-sponsored HB 1464, which will identify renewable energy zones (including wave energy areas) and facilitate efficient permitting of renewable energy projects. Co-sponsored HB 1271, which places Hawaii Clean Energy Initiatives into law and establishes and funds renewable energy branch and staff within Department of Business and Economic Development.
Worked for one year with scientists, beach preservation experts, deputy attorney general and agency staff to draft HB 593 to preserve Kailua beach. Out-of-state beachfront owners are constructing closer to the water, placing houses on sand dunes. As the shoreline migrates due to episodic changes or sea level rise, the property owners will demand to construct sea walls to protect their property from rising sea. Kailua beach would be at jeopardy, if any sea wall is authorized. HB 593 would have created an interim coastal construction control line, to allow Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine best management tools for Kailua beach. While the bill was a result of a year’s work, it also turned out to be my biggest disappointment. (See #3 below).”
2. With which piece of 2009 legislation are you most proud to be affiliated and why?
“See above. Am co-sponsor of all three.”
3. What was the biggest disappointment of the session and how might a similar disappointment be prevented in the future?
“Death of HB 593. House Conferees, including myself, were ready to vote to pass HB 593, CD1. Chair Clayton Hee refused to come to the table. How might a similar disappointment be prevented in the future? Don’t assign the bill to Sen. Hee’s committee. He killed other good measures too.”
4. Debating which issue turned out to be the biggest distraction from your priorities?
“The need to justify my vote in favor of HB 444, which was a vote to give civil rights to all.”
5. What’s one thing you wish voters better understood about you or the political process as a whole?
“I wish voters better understood the unfair, undemocratic power that is given to committee chairs. Chairs can refuse to hear a bill, can refuse to agree or even come to the table in conference committees. The Hawaii Legislature has allowed Chairs to be all-powerful, and some truly abuse that power. The voters suffer and our state suffers from such supreme arrogance.”
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