Bernard Carvalho: Why I'm supporting my dad for mayor, by Brittney Carvalho

Vote Bernard | Together we can, we will

If it's results you want, Bernard is the man. 'Together we can,' means creating an inclusive method of leadership that brings everyone involved together — discussing, creating and realizing our future.

Bernard led high profile task forces for the late former Mayor Bryan Baptiste, including the bike path and affordable housing.

He knows leadership is more than a word. It means setting a goal with plans to achieve it. It also means listening to those involved, bringing people together in support of that goal and relying on the broad expertise of others to make it a reality.

With this approach we can achieve sustainability, making it more than just a buzzword, but a set of practical methods primed to be put into action. We agree that we need Kaua'i to have a stronger economy for its future to be viable and for its residents to flourish here.

Whether that means hosting and retaining high-profile, signature events like the former PGA Grand Slam event in Po'ipu, rolling out business incentives to create more jobs, creating worker housing for farmers or long-term leases for agriculture that has Kaua'i's best interests in mind — we'll do whatever it takes.

We need to support ourselves, take care of each other, our families, our residents and our visitors and be living examples that aloha is OUR spirit.

9.23.2008

Why I'm supporting my dad for mayor, by Brittney Carvalho

I love sports mostly because I grew up watching my brothers. I graduated from Kapa'a High School as Student Body President, just like my dad. I was Homcoming Queen, just like my mom. I've been honored with many awards in leadership not only on the field and court, but also in the community, and I owe all of my accomplishments to my parents, who have always pushed not only me but also my brothers to be the best we could be. My dad is an amazing leader — not only because it is hard to miss him — but because he has a heart of gold. Anyone that has spoken with my father can see right off the bat that he is sincere and he really listens to what anyone has to say. He is a leader in the sense that he can make tough disisions that benefit Kaua'i in a positive way. I know this because he has done the same with his children. When my brothers hit high school my parents sent them away to Honolulu to attend private schools so that they could play football at a higher level and hopefully get football scholarships for college. It was a sacrifice that my parents made for my brothers and now look at where they are, they both earned full-ride football scholarships and one has made it to the NFL. As for me, I'm an island girl at heart and I begged my parents to let me stay on Kaua'i and attend Kapa'a High School.
Ever since I could remember, my father has been making things happen in our communities with special youth programs, anti-drug programs, PTA, and the father commission, just to name a few. Although my father is a busy man, he always made time for me and my siblings, whether making us work out, talking story, family outtings or watching us play our sports. My parents have worked hard to mold their children into good people. When we were little, my dad used to wake us up at 5:30 every morning to go running, he would yell at us and blow his whistle telling us to keep pushing especially when we wanted to give up. With my dad giving up or saying "I can't" is not an option. When you start something, you finish, he always says. I'm sure this way of thinking sounds very familiar to most people and I believe that this is the type of leadership Kaua'i needs to overcome our island's challenges. We need someone like my dad who refuses to give up until he sees this island be all it can be!