2018 Primary Election Candidates

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COUCH, Don
Name on ballot:

COUCH, Don

Running for:

State House

District (if applicable):

11

Political party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

doncouch.com

Current occupation:

Executive Assistant to the Mayor

Age:

62

Previous job history:

Maui County Council Member, Executive Assistant to the Mayor

Previous elected office, if any:

Maui County Council

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

The person who will represent South Maui must be able to get the community’s voice heard in the state legislature. My previous position as a Maui County Council member and my present position as Maui County mayor's liaison between our county government and the state legislature has given me the vital experience necessary to do that and to navigate the legislative process in order to obtain state funding for our schools, roads, and protections of our natural resources and vulnerable shoreline…and to advocate for much needed affordable housing and more business opportunities that will bring jobs to South Maui.

Having a state representative with experience in dealing with our state legislature in Honolulu is a huge advantage for South Maui. As one of 51 House members and 25 Senators, all with competing interests and fiscal goals, our representative must have the ability to advance Maui’s priorities through the legislative process. I have that ability.

What are the top three challenges facing the voters you seek to represent?

The lack of affordable housing is an economic crisis for many South Maui residents. Paying half or more of your monthly income just to cover rent can leave you one paycheck away from homelessness. Clearly not enough affordable housing is being built and in part that’s because of highly restrictive state land-use laws that force housing projects through a complex, costly approval process. As a state legislator I will work to partner with the county for land and/or infrastructure to assist in lowering the costs. Also, homelessness is a serious problem. I will work to redefine the State’s legal responsibilities for the mentally disabled and to provide the funding necessary to care for them in a safe and humane way.
Also, South Maui needs traffic solutions. For decades there has been a plan for a road, bikeway and greenway through central Kihei to run parallel to South Kihei Road and Piilani Highway (commonly referred to as the North/South Collector Road). A stumbling block to getting this “traffic-easer” built has been the lack of support from State and Federal highway agencies. I will work tirelessly to get this long-overdue and vital section of our road system finally built.

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

Having been in the position of creating legislation, I know that you can't just work on one thing at a time. I would put the three issues I mentioned above as my highest priority - Affordable housing, mental health services/facilities and the North/South Collector Road.

If elected, what can you do to improve the lives of your constituents?

See the answers above.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

South Maui gets one seat in the 51-member State House of Representatives. If that person does not perform, then the community suffers. Roads don’t get improved; schools don’t get funded; and your ability to affect state law is diminished. In short, this position is a big deal for the future of the South Maui community. That is why experience matters. That is why the candidate’s record of public service matters. That is why you need to look beyond social media and special interest groups and consider for yourself which candidate you would really want to working for your community, working for you in that important position.

I am the only candidate in this race who has actually worked in the State Legislature. I am the only candidate running for this seat who actually knows how the Legislature works and has worked with its key players. That’s important because when it comes to funding schools; to improving public safety; to making sure no new, unnecessary tax burdens are placed on you, you will need a representative you can count on.

Experience matters and I am asking for your vote on Primary Day, August 11th.

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