You have people not only moving here from the Mainland but the other Neighbor Islands as well because development is paving over everywhere else. Green Party member and former Big Island county clerk Barbara Bell agrees with Bonk's assessment. Ka ' u and North Kohala. But the former Puna resident of 14 years said those same rural residents have their own frustrations with government in Hilo. Puna needs more youth programs and better public transportation to get to jobs elsewhere.
Water is also a big issue.
Dark horses thrive Democratic voters also made a statement in the primary, choosing Holschuh over longtime politician Robert Herkes, who had the support of many mainstream Demo- crats and the unions. That race may have showed the continuing decline of local union influence after the fall of sugar. Although he is running as a Democrat, Holschuh has not been afraid to criticize the county administration, and said he thrives on being a political outsider. The voters in all parties are also frustrated over the police chief situation as well. People simply want a change.