How Green Is GOP Underdog John Carroll? Big Island Home a "Disaster" for Alternative Energy

Courtesy, John Carroll

Being green is not a simple yes or no.

Republican Gov. candidate John Carroll stands apart from the frontrunners. He's been a farmer and a rancher, but admits that his Big Island home is a "disaster" for alternative energy.

Responding to Civil Beat requests to open their homes so we could compare and contrast their personal environmental practices against their professed policy platforms, former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann declined the proposal; former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie answered some of our questions; and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona sat down for a face-to-face interview.

Carroll answered the same questions that were posed to the other candidates, and also agreed to a meeting, this time at Civil Beat's Kaimuki office. He invited us to his Big Island home, though he said it might not be worth the flight, saying "it's just that my good intentions didn't match my actions."

Carroll has posted his positions on some issues on his campaign website. His economy platform includes a passage on agriculture: "Agriculture and Aquaculture are vital components for Hawaii's economy. This is a sector of our economy that must no longer be ignored. Major tracks [sic] of arable land need to be dedicated by the state for agricultural leases. State laws must protect our farmers and promote farming in Hawaii."

On the environment, Carroll's website states: "The stewardship of our precious environment is not a part-time job. The practice of neglecting our canals, streams and ocean with pollution, like sewage spills, has become common place. As a state legislator, I fought to preserve and protect our environment. As governor, I will not tolerate continued abuse of our canals, streams, ocean and lands."

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