2018 Primary Election Candidates

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KOBAYASHI, Dale
Name on ballot:

KOBAYASHI, Dale

Running for:

State House

District (if applicable):

23

Political party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

daleforhouse.com

Current occupation:

Retired from Financial Industry

Age:

58

Previous job history:

Municipal Bond Origination, Morgan Stanley Hawaii. Chief Investment Officer, First Hawaiian Bank. President, Bishop Street Capital Management. Head of Fixed Income-Asia, Commerzbank AG and Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette. Corporate Bond Trader, Credit Suiss

Previous elected office, if any:

None

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

I bring a unique combination of local roots, world perspective from a career spent at the highest levels of global finance, proven leadership and a broad history of community advocacy. The people of Hawaii mean everything to me, my family spans 6 generations here. I'm confident I bring the right combination of heart and mind to make a difference for all of us.

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

Cost of Living. Every day more and more of us are being priced out of communities we've called home for generations. Families and seniors are particularly squeezed with no relief in sight. At a time of unprecedented prosperity for developers and the visitor industry more people than ever can't make ends meet and are forced to leave.

Rapid change in Residential Neighborhoods. Previously quiet neighborhoods are dealing with more change over the last 10 years than over the previous 50. Monster homes, residential vacation rentals, increasing crime and homelessness, broader reach of visitors into communities not used to or designed for it.

Policies of the Federal Government impacting our state. Policies of the Trump administration have created much anxiety in our community. Should his pick to replace Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, be confirmed, the effects will be felt long past the term of the current administration. Native Hawaiian programs, women's rights and organized labor immediately become at risk.

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

Absent a completely different mindset to the issue of truly affordable housing there will be virtually no descendants of current residents living here within two to three generations. It'll be over before you know it. All the blood sweat and tears shed by our forefathers to create our idyllic community, and we're left with a playground for Mainland and Asian wealth. Our children move to California and Nevada, which become the places that their children will call home. My highest legislative priority? Fighting for the right of our future generations to exist here.

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

We need true public servants in elected office. I've always occupied a place on organizational charts while in the private sector. My org chart for this job is pretty simple, constituents on top, the public servant below that. I work for you. It's my solemn duty to serve your interests. Not just for the richest and most powerful among us, every single one of us counts the same.

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

I'm just really grateful to my family and supporters, none of this happens without you.

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