May 10, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jackie Brainard – 573-1935

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE LUCIENNE DE NAIE
ANNOUNCES COUNCIL BID

Stressing the need for common sense solutions to the challenges facing Maui Nui, community advocate Lucienne de Naie took out nomination papers today to stand as a candidate for the Hana/Haiku County Council seat being vacated by Robert Carroll. De Naie pledges to work for property tax reform, home grown energy, homes for local families, community solutions for the ice epidemic, responsible management of water resources and the protection of Maui’s natural and cultural resources.

Owner of a small business, de Naie has spent the last decade working with a variety of non-profit organizations on behalf of the public interest. She was recently recognized by the governor’s office for her many years of stewardship of public lands.

She is also the author of a 200-page report on Maui’s water sources presented to the Board of Water Supply. She is a founding member of Maui Cultural Lands, Inc., a non-profit land trust currently restoring acres of cultural sites in Honokowai Valley and of the Maui Coastal Land Trust.

‘”I’ve talked with, literally, thousands of folks over the years who are worried that local families are getting squeezed out by runaway land prices and property taxes,” said de Naie. “The failure to look at the long term and the unwillingness to make tough decisions threatens Maui’s family farms, scarce water supplies and irreplaceable natural resources. Through my community advocacy, I have shown that these problems can be successfully addressed. That’s what I want to do on the County Council.”

A Huelo resident for more than two decades, de Naie was invited to bring her knowledge of land and water issues to a variety of policymaking groups. She was recently selected to serve on the 25-member citizens advisory committee updating the County General Plan. She was also chosen for the Hawaiian Tourism Authority’s Strategic Plan update.

De Naie has worked with a broad range of community leaders to create and implement Maui Economic and Business Development’s Focus Maui Nui community outreach project and has been a panelist at several statewide planning conferences. She was selected for the Mayor’s Open Space Zoning Advisory Committee, the Keone'o'io Task Force and the Water Use and Development Plan advisory group.

She currently serves as chairperson of the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club and has held leadership positions with Maui Tomorrow, the Haiku Community Association, Surfrider Foundation and the Haiku School Hoolaulea.

For more information, go to ElectLuci.com or call 572-8331.