Goebbert, Tamara I. (Mara)

Office Seeking: State Senator, District 6 (South and West Maui)

Party: Democrat
Website: tamaraforhawaii.com

Food security is defined by the USDA as "access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life." How will your platform address food insecurity in Maui County?

As a senator, I will collaborate with my peers to propose and write legislation to address food insecurity. Specifically, we will find state and federal funding sources to support charitable programs, enabling them to expand the range of services they can provide and the geographic areas they can serve. In addition, we'll keep forming alliances with the growing number of institutions dedicated to food security and self-sufficiency. Local production and food self-sufficiency is also an important aspect of food security and I will prioritize expansion and diversification of our island agriculture infrastructure.

Please list any initiatives you have supported in Maui County to increase food access and food production that you are proud of:

As a first-time candidate for state office I am looking forward to opportunities to increase production and access for all citizens.

Hawaiʻi imports roughly 85% of our food supply. How will your platform address increasing local food production?

In my platform, I advocate for a diverse economy that includes sustainable agriculture in order to wean our economy off of its reliance on tourism as its sole source of income. Agroforestry is a more environmentally friendly model, as shown by Ke Kula Nui o Waimānalo’s ʻUlu Pono Mahiʻāina project. This encourages both food sovereignty and island self-sufficiency.

Please indicate your position on the following policies:

Creating County funding mechanisms to support DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks. SUPPORT
Increasing local food procurement for Maui County schools. SUPPORT
Increasing Farm to School initiatives including school gardens. SUPPORT
Pursuing County Farm to Food Bank Funding. SUPPORT & REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Developing regional organic waste and composting services. SUPPORT & REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Restructuring the Department of Water Supply and Department of Wastewater to encourage strategies for conservation, efficient water use, storage, and growing water resources. SUPPORT
Increasing the budget for the Maui County Department of Agriculture. SUPPORT
Offering subsidies to local farms that have shown the ability to sustain production. SUPPORT
Supporting policies that allow for increased affordable housing for farmworkers. SUPPORT
Improving policies around hunting and utilizing invasive protein sources. SUPPORT & REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Funding updated shared processing facilities, including slaughterhouses and food hubs. REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Implementing new inspection policies to reduce the spread of invasive species. SUPPORT & REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Establishing local control of water resources through a Maui County Community Water Authority, with the ability to establish regional community boards. SUPPORT

Please elaborate on any of your above positions here.

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Are there other issues, County-wide or within your own residency area, about food security that concern you, and how do you plan to address these issues if elected?

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