Each week Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding hosts The Hot Seat, our opinion-page blog that brings in elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was City Councilman Charles K. Djou. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion and click on "The Hot Seat." (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Debra: I live in Hawai'i Kai and have for decades, and frankly, I think your opposition of transit is short-sighted and provincial. Please explain why we in Hawai'i Kai should not support relief for people coming in from the West side? I feel the silent majority of East side residents support rail — have you taken your own poll to determine how many truly support rail in your district? Are you hearing all voices, not just the loudest ones?

Councilman Charles K. Djou: Debra, it may surprise you that I am not against rail per se. My concern is that a rail system for Honolulu is too expensive, the people cannot afford it and the system will not achieve the ridership numbers necessary to justify its enormous cost.

My position on rail centers on financial realities, not loud voices. With that said, I have also long been the lone voice arguing that the voters should have the final say on rail. It is my hope that the people will have an opportunity to vote on rail this fall and settle this three-decade-long dispute once and for all. Virtually every other U.S. city that has opted for rail has given the people a vote, O'ahu voters deserve the same respect and I will certainly respect whatever the outcome may be of such a vote.

Ladyluck: Why the back-and-forth on rail in City Council? With the increase in gas prices we need to have some type of alternative transportation. I read in the paper that there has been an increase in bus ridership. which leads me to believe that people are willing to ride public transportation as long as it's convenient.

Djou: For me, the key question isn't if people are willing to ride mass transit; studies show that people are. The question is if the people of O'ahu can afford a $6 billion rail system and will the ridership justify its enormous cost — I do not believe it will. The major issue before the government is if we are willing to have the courage to put a question on the ballot. I have always argued that this is the best way to finally settle this dispute once and for all. It continues to be my hope that you will get a question on rail this fall and this "back and forth" will end.

HawaiiRn0120: My family really admires how you speak up on the important issues like the rail. What do you think about the use of taxpayer money for pro-rail ads?

Djou: The city's pro-rail ads that are purchased with your tax dollars are wrong. The fact that the administration feels compelled to take your money and use it for political advertising to try to convince you that rail is a good idea, in and of itself should give any resident some pause about the wisdom of this project.

Currently the city is also looking at a soft economy and slowing revenues; using precious tax dollars for advertising isn't good prioritization of our limited resources. In a democracy, whenever the government spends your money on advertising, whether for a legitimate purpose or a political one, you should always be made aware of it. I am proud that I was recently able to successfully push for a new law that requires the city government to now at least disclose when it is using your tax money for advertising.

Comma'aina: Your "we can't afford it" mantra is a convenient way to duck this issue: Without grade-separated (rail) transit, commuters between 'Ewa and town have no alternative to sitting in traffic. So in addition to explaining exactly why we can't afford it (beyond "No new taxes!"), what are you doing to increase mobility for residents who must travel the length of the urban corridor? What's your "low-cost" alternative to rail that will restore mobility to the citizens of this city?

Djou: I support the HOT lane alternative.

Kana From China: I have been watching the debate on transit. Do we really need a transit authority in Honolulu?

Djou: A transit authority is not necessary for our city. Other parts of the country have created transit authorities to supervise and operate mass transit systems, but only in the context of multiple jurisdictions. Almost all rail systems in our nation are strung between several cities, numerous counties and occasionally even between several states. For O'ahu's mass transit system, there are no counties, no states and no other city governments other than the City and County of Honolulu to deal with. (I can understand that if perhaps Honolulu's rail system were to connect to Hawai'i's ninth island, Las Vegas, perhaps some of the anti-rail opposition would disappear and a transit authority might then make sense.) Ceding such important functions of government as budgeting, appropriation of tax money, issuing government bonds and condemning private land to an unelected transit authority makes no sense for Honolulu. These powers should legitimately remain with our democratically elected representatives.

EWAsupportsDJOU: With Judge Sakamoto's ruling on the Stop Rail Now petition to allow the rail question to be placed on the November ballot, will you still push for your Charter questions in the City Council?

Djou: No. I have always supported putting a question on rail on the ballot — but only one question. I and the City Council should respect the democratic process of initiative and consequently the Stop Rail Now petition. It is not necessary and would be needlessly confusing to have two similar questions on the ballot on the same subject of rail. I can only see a Charter amendment question still moving forward if, for some odd reason, the city clerk does not certify the Stop Rail Now petition.

John: Why are you so against rail transit? Every major metropolitan city has some sort of government-subsidized rail system. Even Third World countries have a rail system. If we don't do it now, the federal government will never again help us out. This may be our last chance to raise the quality of life for many people who depend on mass transit.

Djou: I respect and understand that there are meritorious reasons to support rail. As I have always stated, however, I am concerned that the multibillion-dollar cost of a rail system for Honolulu is too much, the people cannot afford it and we will not achieve the ridership numbers necessary to justify its enormous cost. Nevertheless, I continue to advocate putting this issue on the ballot to settle this rail debate once and for all and I will respect whatever decision the voters arrive at.

Joe: If your community supported mass transit would you support mass transit? And advocate for it?

Djou: If the rail issue is put on the ballot and the people vote for rail, I will support it. As an elected official I believe I have a responsibility to carry out the will of the people in our democracy.

Tom: Our economy in Hawai'i is in a major slump. With the transit on the horizon, will the taxpayers ever get relief from property taxes or any other taxes?

Djou: Tom, your city government has increased taxes and government spending by far too much for far too long. Giving a teenager your credit card with no limit is often a dangerous act because the spender does not have to bear the consequences of paying for the spending. The city budget has acted in a similar fashion over the past several years. In just the past four years, city spending is up a whopping 72 percent! In the final year of Jeremy Harris' term as mayor, the city government worked on a $1.5 billion budget. This year, the city has a budget of $2.7 billion. This increase is more than five times that of inflation and nearly quadruple that of personal income growth. The catch with all of this additional spending is that you get to pay for it.

We never should have increased government taxes and spending by so much over the past few years and now that the economy is slowing, it is essential for the city to look at reducing taxes and returning more money to the economy.

Kyle: It is discouraging to see a City Council that can't work together well. What are your plans to help change that?

Djou: I certainly agree the City Council can use more aloha. Hope always springs eternal with me that my colleagues will find a way to get along. As a father, a military officer, a professor and as an elected official I have always felt the best way to lead is by example. I will continue to introduce and argue for ideas that I think will move our community forward, even if I am the lone voice for such ideas. I do not engage in the horse trading or linking of unrelated issues for political gain that so commonly characterizes our politics. I feel the voters should always be the ultimate judge on rewarding or punishing politicians and their leadership style.

Booyah: Some people consider you a rising star in local politics. What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment in politics?

Djou: I take great pride in trying to restoring a sense of ethics and trust in our government.

When I entered the City Council six years ago, two council members had just been jailed and several others were under investigation. The FBI had also just completed a major corruption sting operation against the city's Liquor Commission. Since entering the council I have successfully pushed for cleaning up the once troubled liquor commission. I have also advanced several major ethics reform proposals — including finally giving the power to the ethics commission to issue civil fines for ethics violations. An honest and ethical government is the fundamental foundation of any democracy.

Reach Jeanne Mariani-Belding at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com.