Note: Neighbor Island And Uncontested Races Are Not Profiled
District 42: Waipahu-Ewa
Tom Berg
Republican
Age: 44
Job: Community volunteer
Past: Vice president, Ewa by Gentry Community Association
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
Nine years at state Capitol creating legislation and solutions that benefited Ewa and Waipahu residents. Previous work involved bringing Weed and Seed to district and park improvements with Vision Team. Co-founder Ewa Pedestrian Coalition. Presently serving as director on the Oahu Resource and Conservation Development Council, and member of Ewa Neighborhood Board since 2003 as Legislative Committee chair. Volunteer on Rules Committee for Kalaeloa Advisory Team to create requisites for that region. These experiences have given me the ability to lead, listen and understand the issues important to people in my district.
What is one thing you would do in office to improve the local economy?
Cease tax collections on food and clothing. Also, hold public hearings to determine if businesses would thrive better in conditions whereby our state exercised a federal exemption to the Jones Act which in turn could enhance the transfer of goods and freight at a lesser cost benefiting the consumer. It’s time Hawaii fully examine the potential of utilizing the ocean as a super highway in which to be more conducive to the needs of those businesses that are constantly seeking more viable ways to get their goods to the marketplace as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.
Do you support convening a Constitutional Convention? Please explain.
Yes. The degree of technological advances over the last 30 years could play a significant role in how government could be more efficient. It’s time to re-examine what has been working and what hasn’t. We tune up our cars, get medical check-ups and evaluate our own allotment in life regularly when we can. So finetuning the engines of government would be a sound practice to administer for Hawaii’s constituency. My recommendation would be to mandate what the Legislature would not pass out, and that is to prohibit the Legislature from ever raiding the state’s Special Highway Fund ever again.
Do you support Oahu’s planned rail-transit system? Please explain.
Yes, so long as rail operations do not hinder us from being able to advance a new highway to augment the H-1 freeway. A pro-rail position should not translate into an anti-highway position. We are severely lane deficient and need to increase highway capacity since rail will not bring resolve to traffic conditions on the H-1 as a stand-alone solution. For those of us who cannot take rail, government’s social engineering us out of our cars is not the American way; especially when cars of the future will be eco-friendly and their popularity soar more so than today.
What can the Legislature do to improve Hawaii’s public education?
Air-condition the schools in need and offer the same quality of environment we expect from our employers when working in an office setting to excel and increase productivity. Return to the basics by providing each student with the textbooks necessary to call their own and make libraries throughout the state more accessible by expanding their hours of service to cater to those with a yearning to learn beyond a school’s closed doors.
Genaro Bimbo
Nonpartisan
Age: 41
Job: Government employee
Past: Travel agent, legislative, construction, banking, teacher, hotel, supervisory
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
My many experiences in life — bad and good (from being homeless … , from receiving welfare … , experiences in many walks of life … , from being a private employee to government employee … , from traveling around the world and meeting all kinds of people, from marriage to family problems, and etc.) I am open-minded and have a wide understanding of human problems. I am true (honest) in my dealings with people. I help people whenever I can. My principles in life are more important than money or power.
What is one thing you would do in office to improve the local economy?
Keep constructions going. We have agricultural lands. Maybe we can use these lands to produce (something?) for export or whatever. Maybe we can help the homeless people get a job. I would work with the tourism industry, military and the federal government to promote local resources, as well as invite foreigners to come to our Islands.
Do you support convening a Constitutional Convention? Please explain.
Yes! I do support it. We need this process for the people of the state of Hawaii although there are pros and cons to it. I will not elaborate but it is the watershed political event in the modern state of Hawaii. Is that good or bad? Well, the people of the state of Hawaii should have the final say.
Do you support Oahu’s planned rail-transit system? Please explain.
Yes! I do support it. It is a start and it is about time. Although it costs a lot, we need it now, as other alternative to the traffic problems. People need to just accept it and tell their children (future leaders) to get involve and do something for the future of Hawaii. Hawaii is unique and we need diversity strategy to become the most diverse state.
What can the Legislature do to improve Hawaii’s public education?
Money is always the problem. They need money to operate for the benefits of our children. The Legislature needs to work with HSTA and DOE to better the lives of our future leaders (children) because these children are the beneficiary of this “aloha” state. It is not me or you. They are the ones — the children. In short, the Legislature needs to listen to HSTA and DOE and visit all the schools in the state of Hawaii, so that the Legislature knows what to do. Spend wisely!
Rida Cabanilla
Democrat
Age: Not given
Job: State representative
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
I am very honest, sincere, open-minded and sensitive to others. I have an arsenal of experiences that will enable me to relate to various issues that come to play. I know the people and issues in my district. I am very familiar with the legislative process and equipped with foresight.
What is one thing you would do in office to improve the local economy?
We should continue our efforts on building our own renewable energy initiatives and building infrastructures to advance it. I am interested in the furtherance of geothermal energy as one of our energy source. With the slowing down of our economy due to increasing cost of oil and decreasing tourism, we should consider reverting to agriculture rather than building houses on them. Employment through construction is a temporary means that will be catastrophic financially in an economic downturn such as now.
Do you support convening a Constitutional Convention? Please explain.
A Con Con will help us focus more on what kind of policies we currently have in place and how it impacts us all. I look at it as a tool to correct the stern if we are out of course.
Do you support Oahu’s planned rail-transit system? Please explain.
I am an Ewa legislator. Traffic congestion is at our corridor. We need to implement all available means to dig us out of congestion. I do not believe that the rail will solve all of our traffic congestion problem, but I do believe that it will help. We need to stop worrying about the cost and just do it!
What can the Legislature do to improve Hawaii’s public education?
Public education is now at $2.58 billion a year. The biggest expenditure the state has. We just need to have DOE accountable and accept that this is what it is. If $2.53 billion a year will not do it, then let us privatize public education. Private schools can do it, and even better at times, why not?
Rey Rodriguez
Democrat
Age: 59
Job: Retired military
Past: Logistic operation chief, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
My concern and deep passion for the residents of District 42 have compelled me to take on the arduous and very important task of representing them at the state House of Representatives. Being a father, a friend and active community member, I feel that I have much in common with the residents. I can empathize with their needs and vocalize their wants and concerns for themselves, their children and their community. My goal in representing them is to insure that their voices are heard and that they are duly represented at each and every juncture. My purpose is to serve the residents of District 42 wholeheartedly with great passion, endless energy and an endless commitment to integrity with dignity and honor. As their representative, I pledge to continuously focus on the rights of the people.
What is one thing you would do in office to improve the local economy?
I will legislate for the creation of a government entity that will promote affordable project developments on West Oahu. The government will be the leader in this worthwhile endeavor. Creating this situation will lower the overheads, increase jobs/spaces and make way for a system where there will be a balance of business transactions between downtown and West Oahu.
I will also check into the possibility of adjusting the working hours of city/state workers to alleviate the traffic congestion. I notice that when schools are on vacation, the traffic to town is flowing smoothly.
Do you support convening a Constitutional Convention? Please explain.
I don’t think we need it because we can just create laws or amend laws to make it applicable to the present situation. However, we can also put it on the ballot and make the people decide.
Do you support Oahu’s planned rail-transit system? Please explain.
I want the rail, but I don’t like the expenses the go with it. If there is a better alternative with less costs and less time to build, I will support it.
What can the Legislature do to improve Hawaii’s public education?
I support quality education. This is my agenda:
First, I will legislate to subsidize qualified college students who want to pursue degrees in education. Once they graduate, they can devote their first four years in teaching public school students. This project if adopted can be a win-win situation for the graduates and our schools.
Second, I will encourage big corporations to participate in monitoring students’ progress to recognize and reward excellence in academics and/or sports.
Third, I will encourage participation from good citizens who excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor to contribute in bringing about a good quality education.
Mike Schultz
Democrat
Age: 24
Job: Not given
Past: Political experience with Sen. Dan Inouye and Sen. Dan Akaka campaigns
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
I believe that I would make an excellent state representative because living in the district I understand the needs of our community. The 42nd District needs a leader that will be realistic and enact positive legislation in the House. I would be able to propose bills that will take care of our community, making our transit and educational issues my primary focus.
What is one thing you would do in office to improve the local economy?
As a legislator I would bring more focus to small business in Hawaii and address the hardships with owning and running a small business here. Tax breaks for small businesses would help stimulate and diversify the economy state wide. I also feel that promoting development in the area such as light rail would bring steady jobs to the state. Unfortunately there is not one solution to the slumping local economy, so it must be addressed on several levels.
Do you support convening a Constitutional Convention? Please explain.
No, I believe the Constitution is a framework that should not be changed. We must work within the system to enact change with in our government. A Constitutional Convention would open the door to small interest groups and adversely affect the future of Hawaii.
Do you support Oahu’s planned rail-transit system? Please explain.
Yes, I believe rail is the first step in addressing the state’s growing transit problems. Development of the light rail system would alleviate congestion. The light rail would also help to evenly distribute urban development in the state and providing steady work through the course of development.
What can the Legislature do to improve Hawaii’s public education?
Hawaii needs to invest more effort in its education system. Enticing well-qualified teachers and improving teacher retention are key issues that need to be examined. A systematic improvement of every aspect of the school system from maintenance to overcrowding is needed. I will make it a major priority to build more schools to accommodate our growing number of families and to significantly raise the quality of current schools in the 42nd District.
