Jacobson's funding came from small contributions from the district's residents. Her opponent's funding was comparable in amount, but came largely from corporations not individuals, and only one contribution coming from within the district. Her opponent ran numerous large newspaper ads. He also wrapped his campaign literature within official charter commission handouts - a questionable practice, given that he had just recently left the charter commission as a member. The altitude varies from sea level to 13,000 ft.
Most people live on individual household rainwater catchment water systems.
Many depend upon photovoltaic and wind power and solar hot water. The future will be challenging for Jacobson and the Greens, as redistricting along with new non-partisan county elections, may make it harder for Greens to get elected on the Big Island. Democrats hope to redraw districts in 2002 to eliminate the Greens entirely from office. At the same time non-partisan elections were approved by the voters in November. Jacobson opposed this change, arguing that it would lessen voter choice, increase the influence of big money on elections and make it even harder for progressives to compete.