Charles Djou
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Charles Kong Djou represents the area from Waikiki to Hawaii Kai on the Honolulu City Council. He was first elected in 2002 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2006. Before entering the City Council, Charles served in the Hawaii State House where he was the Republican Floor Leader.
Charles grew up and has spent most of his life in Hawaii. Charles graduated from Punahou School and earned both a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, graduating magna cum laude with distinction. Charles earned his law degree from the University of Southern California Law School.
In the City Council, Charles serves as the Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and is a member of the Executive Matters, and the Public Health, Safety & Welfare committees. Charles has been named legislator of the year by Small Business Hawaii in 2006, 2004 and 2002. In 2006 Charles was selected as one of the 40 most promising leaders in Hawaii under age 40 by Pacific Business News and in 2005 was named by Honolulu Weekly as the "Best Politician" in the state.
Outside of the City Council, Charles serves as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Charles also teaches as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
Charles is an active member of the community. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Lung Association and is a former member of the Neighborhood Board. Charles is a member of the Young Business Roundtable, the Rotary Club, and the Hawaii Telecommunications Association. Charles is also a member of the Hawaii Republican Party, where he previously served as Vice Chair.
Charles is married to Stacey Kawasaki Djou and together they have three children. Charles' surname "Djou" is a misspelled French translation of his Chinese surname "Zhou."
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[edit] Achievements – State Legislature
Charles Djou was first elected to the Hawaii State Legislature. Here are his achievements:
[edit] Budget Worksheets
As a member of the State House of Representatives, Charles Djou fought to open the State Budget worksheets which were previously secret, to be available to the public. Djou pushed for this change when he was told he could look at the budget worksheets on in the committee room but was not able to take any notes or make copies of them. The budget worksheets detail the budget for various state departments and agencies. Today, as a direct result of Djou’s work, the Hawaii Legislature opens the budget worksheets and the public can now see how its tax money is spent.
[edit] Van Cams
Representative Djou led the way in getting rid of van cams. In 2004 the state launched the controversial van cam program to catch speeders using automated cameras instead of police.
[edit] Achievements – Honolulu City Council
Councilmember Djou continues to work hard at Honolulu Hale. Here are some of his achievements:
[edit] Liquor Commission clean-up
After a series of corruption scandals that tarnished the Honolulu Liquor Commission, Councilmember Djou called for wholesale reform and better oversight of the City's liquor administration system. When seven Liquor Commission inspectors were convicted of bribery charges, Councilmember Djou successfully obtained an audit of the Liquor Commission and subsequently called for the firing of the Liquor Commission Administrator and Chief Investigator in 2005. After four months, the Liquor Commission Administrator was removed, and the Chief Investigator left soon after. Today this agency is rebuilding the trust it lost with the public.
[edit] Ethics Reform
When Councilmember Djou entered the City Council, many elected officials had recently been convicted and sent to jail for ethics violations. Councilmember Djou wanted to see tighter ethics rules, including giving the Ethics Commission the power to impose fines on government officials. Councilmember Djou was the driving force behind passage of a Charter Amendment in 2006 that would allow civil fines to be imposed on elected government officials.
In 2008, following up on the passage of the Charter Amendment vote, Councilmember Djou introduced legislation to strengthen conflict of interest rules. After passage by a unanimous vote in the Council, Mayor Hannemann vetoed the measure. In June 2008, Councilmember Tam was sternly rebuked by the City Council for discriminatory racial remarks during a Council committee meeting.
[edit] Opposition to increasing taxes
Councilmember Djou believes that all residents have the right to keep more of their hard-earned money and that government should live within its means. Councilmember Djou has voted against every measure that would increase taxes for residents in the City and County of Honolulu. Councilmember Djou fought tax increases ranging from the increase in the vehicle tax to the General Excise Tax surcharge on Transit, because he knows that the people of Oahu are already taxed too much.
[edit] Protecting the environment and advocate for alternative energy
Councilmember Djou is a strong advocate for protection of the environment and is a vigorous proponent of reducing our dependance on imported oil and increased use of renewable resources. Djou pushed for landmark laws that provided funding for the City to purchase solar photovoltaic systems to generate electricity in City buildings and for City vehicles to use nitrogen in tires to reduce fuel costs. Councilmember Djou continues to advocate for better use of our natural resources. Reducing our need for a landfill by implementing comprehensive curbside recycling throughout Oahu has become a signature issue for Councilmember Djou.
In early 2008, to encourage the installation of photovoltaic cells in residential homes, Councilmember Djou introduced and passed legislation that waived the building fees for residents who chose to install PV systems in their home.
[edit] Common Sense Government
Councilmember Djou has advocated for common sense in our government. When residents asked for some relief from the numerous street closures caused by the large number of parades in Waikiki, Councilmember Djou worked to pass a balanced parades bill that both allowed parades in Waikiki without overburdening the residents of the area. When he discovered that restroom facilities in City buildings were not adequate for women, Councilmember Djou passed a potty parity bill that requires larger female restrooms at specific event facilities. When it became apparent the City's website address was not user-friendly, Councilmember Djou worked with Congressman Ed Case to streamline the City Web address to www.honolulu.gov.
In 2008, upon hearing concerns from Waikiki residents about panhandling around automated teller machines, Councilmember Djou introduced and pushed for legislation to protect residents and visitors from panhandlers around ATM's. In June 2008, Councilmember Djou introduced and pushed a resolution asking the City to investigate the use of car "boots" to get unregistered or uninsured cars off the road.
