Mayoral Veteran Debate: Mitch Roth vs. Dr. Kimo Alameda

Story and Photos by Jade Silva

Incumbent Mayor Mitch Roth and challenger, Alameda Alameda, faced a tense crowd and moderator while debating Veterans issues on Sept. 18, 2024. Taking place at UH Hilo and hosted by the Hawai‘i Island Veteran Club, the debate and preceding forum provided a space for local veterans to express their concerns, especially in regards to access to services and mental health support.

The first contentious moment occurred when the moderator, Bobby Farmer, asked Roth if he was aware of how many Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) were on the island. VSOs are volunteer workers who assist veterans with claims for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Moderator Bobby Farmer opens the Veterans Debate on Sept. 18, 2024, in UCB 100Moderator Bobby Farmer opens the Veterans Debate on Sept. 18, 2024, in UCB 100

“I don't know how many we have, but I'd be willing to bet that we don't have enough. Only because I've seen so many issues with veterans services, how we’re lacking, and how difficult it is for veterans to get the treatment they need,” Roth responded.

Bobby Farmer challenged Roth's claim, asserting “We’re not lacking, sir. It is a distribution problem… We have enough VSOs to service everybody. Except, there's 120 on Oahu, and there's none here.”

Mayor Roth bit back, “So we’re lacking then,” to which Farmer ultimately agreed, “Completely lacking.”

Later on, Ben Fuata, who runs the airfield at Pohakuloa, challenged the moderators' figures. “Contrary to what the moderator says, I am an accredited service officer.”

Fuata has spent the last eight years as a volunteer VSO, traveling the entire state to help veterans in need. Fuata said, however, “He is correct that the distribution of that is disproportional.”

Alameda acknowledged the importance of VSOs and further means of peer support for veterans, especially to help them access their earned benefits and services. “There is an array of potential benefits, but it's very confusing… One of the best things we can do for veterans is help them navigate that system of disability because there's a lot out there for [them].” This includes vocational training, pension, retirement, housing, and medical benefits, the latter of which was a recurring subject throughout the evening. The moderator and audience members spoke of the VA falling through and wanted to know what more the county can do to fill in the gaps.

At the debate, candidate Dr. Kimo addresses the audience to share his platformAt the debate, candidate Dr. Kimo addresses the audience to share his platform

Both candidates expressed that even though they want to step in, quickly allocating government funds to veterans mental health, and mental health in general, is difficult. Mayor Roth cited the mental health crisis center as an example, saying “we have been finding the money. Lots, from different places. [But we] haven't found enough.”

Alameda agreed, and thus believes in bolstering alternatives, like self help groups (such as Mental Health Restoration) and peer-to-peer programs.

The moderator spurred discussion of another alternative, psychedelic therapies. Both candidates were asked if they would support the formation of a task force to explore decriminalizing psychedelics and if they, as mayor, would travel with Farmer to Oregon and Denver to talk to people there about doing it.

Roth replied tentatively, “I don't think I would form a task force to decriminalize, to make it open to everybody. But I think there are people that should be able to use these because it is successful. But I think it also needs to be in a [clinical] setting. … It’s not for everyone.”

Alameda, who holds a doctorate in psychology, approached the topic cautiously. “There are evidence-based practices and this is a growing practice with some evidence” emphasizing, however, that there are a host of treatment options with more solid evidence. After the moderator pushed for a concrete answer about the taskforce and traveling with him, Alameda replied, “You want me to make a promise that I ‘gon go with you, I just met you!”

Farmer acknowledged that this treatment is not for everyone but reiterated, “I'm very passionate about it.”

“I can tell,” replied Alameda.

The debate was interrupted by an audience member, a local veteran, frustrated that they had not gotten to the forum portion of the evening. Before opening the floor to the audience, the event coordinators allowed candidates to finish their responses, at which point Alameda attempted to calm the tense room with breathing exercises. After he finished, the anxious crowd expressed their concerns about veterans mental health, exposure to toxic chemicals, and their personal accounts of difficulties with receiving their earned benefits.

Dr. Kimo, a trained psychologist, leads the tense crowd in a brief breathing exerciseDr. Kimo, a trained psychologist, leads the tense crowd in a brief breathing exercise

After one audience member's detailed account of problems with Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and the audience’s murmurs of agreement, Alameda spoke to them: “This could easily become one session where you just airing your frustrations. I feel it. I feel the frustration over there, Uncle,” gesturing to one man. And to another, Alameda said, “I feel the frustration over there, you just trying to make it… I get it. And our time’s limited.”

He continued by explaining that there is a jurisdictional issue and a lot of these fall to federal and state levels. He said the best thing the county can do is advocate and fight, but there is only so much they can do.

“A lot of these issues, I kind of agree with Kimo here, they're really not at the county level. But there are little things we can do.” Mayor Roth promised to make a call to VR&E the next day to see what is going on. “That is a little thing we can do,” said Roth.

One of the final questions asked candidates if they can differentiate themselves from one another.

Roth said “I think I can. I think I have a history of working on veterans issues.” He discussed his work on the Veterans Treatment Court when he was prosecuting attorney, which brought down veteran recidivism (convicted criminals relapsing into criminal behavior) by 55%. He also cited his work on the veterans parade, bringing The Wall That Heals to Hawai‘i for the first time, and continually tending to the Veterans Cemetery.

Alameda responded, “I agree. Mayor Roth, Mitch, he does have a history. That veteran’s court, that's awesome. He has the experience of being in this position for almost four years now. So he's got that on me for sure. The only thing I can think that might differentiate me from Mitch is my psychology background, me being a psychiatrist and me understanding systems,” referring to his work for the county.

The challenger emphasized that culture is the most significant element missing in our treatment facilities. He concluded, "Culture is also healing."