2018 Primary Election Candidates

Click to select a candidate

Name on ballot:

ROBINSON-ONDERKO, Lynn

Running for:

State House

District (if applicable):

Political party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

www.LynnforEwa.com

Current occupation:

Homemaker/Community Advocate

Age:

Previous job history:

Account Executive

Previous elected office, if any:

None

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

I am a long time community advocate that has served in many capacities, to include working with Ewa public schools in parent/teacher organizations, student enrichment groups and school/community focus groups. I served 6 years as my homeowner's association President. I am currently serving as Co-Chair of the Community Engagement committee for the Blue Zone's Project, a community health initiative in Ewa/Kapolei/Makakilo. I am also serving my second elected term as Secretary and Chair of Community Outreach on the Ewa Neighborhood Board. I recently earned a BA in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii, West Oahu, and I understand policy making and implementation. I did my internship in Senator Will Espero's office. Until his recent resignation, I continued to work with his office as a Community Liaison in Senate District 19; meeting with constituents and attending community meetings in the district.

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

1) Underfunded Public Schools 2) Lack of Living Wages 3) Traffic

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

Increased funding for our public schools

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

Our public schools are severely underfunded. Ewa schools have failing infrastructure and programs suffer. Underpaid teachers are leaving Hawaii to find higher salaries at an alarming rate. I am committed to meeting with teachers and administrators in the district to get a comprehensive needs assessment in order to prioritize funding for projects in our schools. I will continue to advocate for Hawaii's teachers being paid professional wages. I know there is no greater investment in our future than a quality education for our children. I will fight for living wages and work to diversify our economy. Hawaii's working families will continue to live paycheck to paycheck, just one illness or accident away from becoming houseless, if we don't bring higher paying jobs to Hawaii. Ewa drivers suffer unacceptably long commutes day in and day out; diminishing their quality of life and taking away time from their families. I am committed to finding solutions that improve our roads and afford alternative modes of transportation to bring relief to our working families.

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

If elected, I am committed to being engaged and accessible to my constituents. I know that being a State Representative means that I work for the people. I have spent countless hours at the Capitol testifying in favor (and against) issues that impact our community, including measures pertaining to social justice, education, workers' rights and the preservation of our natural resources and cultural assets. I have been able to build and maintain strong relationships at the Capitol and in my district. I am ready to take my caring commitment to community and advocacy to lawmaking.