Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced he is running for a second term. With a year left in his current term, Bissen has focused on recovery efforts following the Lahaina wildfire. His reelection campaign includes proposals to convert 7,000 short-term rentals into long-term housing, which are still under review by the Maui County Council, according to Hawaii Public Radio.
Mayor Richard Bissen, who is seeking a second term, said his focus is on improving Maui’s emergency preparedness and rebuilding efforts. He told Hawaii News Now that the county has added smoke detector cameras to help spot wildfire threats and expanded the Maui Emergency Management Agency from 9 to 25 employees since 2023, along with 29 new firefighter positions. About 80 wildfire survivors have recently moved into new homes with help from federal funds. Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee said communication between Bissen, the council, and the community has improved but added that job vacancies and slow permitting remain issues.
County of Maui spokesperson Lakshmi Abraham said the administration has worked to reduce job vacancies and improve operations under Mayor Richard Bissen. Bissen told Hawaii News Now, "We've had several emergencies since August of 2023, everything from tsunami to other fires that have broken out and there's a big difference in the community now, everyone sees the alert." Recovery and permitting efforts continue, and Bill 9, which would expand long-term housing, is still under review by the County Council. Bissen will appear on the ballot in the August 8 primary and the November 3 general election.
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