Mayor· 2023-01-02 - 2027-01-01
Richard T. Bissen Jr.
Maui County
About
Richard T. Bissen Jr.'s campaign platform centers primarily on addressing Maui County's housing needs as a top priority for his administration and re-election bid. His platform focuses on ongoing local governance and community development issues as he seeks a second term as mayor.
Campaign promises (1)
- developmentMayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. has prioritized housing as the top priority for Maui County during his administration.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 1
- Total speaking time
- 10:00
- Avg per meeting
- 10:00
- Segments
- 72
Want every word Bissen has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Bissen said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)(Development)
Infrastructure Priority for 100% Affordable and Workforce Housing
Requirements add costs to housing projects, which Chair Lee warns could make homes less affordable.
Honua'ula (Wailea 670) fire station and retention basin overlap
Kīpūola Kauhale — Maui's first kauhale community
Cost estimate tripled from $10,000 to $30,000 per unit, funded by county and state sources.
Lānaʻi Project District 2 (Kōʻele) zoning change (Bills 24 and 25, 2024)
First-time homebuyer program reach
$92.5 million of the recovery fund is dedicated to helping survivors buy existing homes, up to $600,000 each.
Piilani Promenade subdivision bond and drainage questions
$6 million in lapsed bond proceeds redirected to prosecutorial facility renovations.
Wailea Golf mapping and the Chan proposal
Piilani Promenade land-use conflict with LUC order
An approximately $20 million cash subdivision bond for road and infrastructure improvements remains held by the county, per former Public Works Director David Good.
Maui Long-Term Wildfire Recovery Operations
$1.6 billion in federal CDBG-DR funds drive the rebuild, with $950 million in unfunded infrastructure needs still being pursued.
Lahaina rebuild and affordable housing funding
Testimony cited median-income households unable to cover mortgage, HOA, insurance, and utility costs exceeding $4,900 per month at shoreline condos, and fire-survivor housing programs ending August 31.
Pāʻia Sugar Mill Redevelopment — Community Plan Amendment and Change in Zoning
The applicant said the 20% open space requirement (about 4 acres) is a financial burden but asked for flexibility to hold revenue-generating events on it; industrial land carries some of the county's highest property tax rates.
North Kīhei Mauka residential designation
The designation could enable thousands of future homes in Kīhei Mauka, with infrastructure costs borne later by the county and developers.
Wailea Golf Course plan discrepancy
Growth concurrency and impact fees
Ballard estimated taxpayers effectively subsidize development's cumulative impacts on roads, water, police and fire.
Central Maui base yard industrial expansion with 100-foot gulch buffers
Bill 9 carve-outs: hotel rezoning referrals for apartment-district TVRs
Owners testified buildings like Hale Kai O Kīhei are underinsured by at least $5 million with flood insurance costing roughly $10,000 per unit per year, while critics say hotel zoning locks in visitor revenue instead of housing.
Huey Road subdivision fire hydrant and deferral agreement controversy
Another $75,000 of taxpayer money, pushing the case's legal budget to $1 million, with billings already exceeding what was appropriated.
Housing outside flood hazard zones
Duplex/ADU action struck — residents can now legally add units
Workforce housing policy conflicts with Chapter 2.96
Conflicting requirements could add legal fees and delay workforce housing projects by months.
Decisions during term (5)
Recorded while Jr. was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.