2018 Primary Election Candidates

Click to select a candidate

Name on ballot:

LHEUREUX, Ray

Running for:

Governor

District (if applicable):

N/A

Political party:

Republican

Campaign website:

trustbackingovernment.org

Current occupation:

Retired Marine/President Education Institute of Hawaii

Age:

Previous job history:

Former Marine/Former Assistant Superintendent Office of School Facilities and Support Services

Previous elected office, if any:

N/A

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

Proven track record of servant leadership for all, command experience, state executive experience, action oriented operator with results driven accomplishments. Promised advocacy for the people you are privileged to govern.

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

Firstly, Economy, which connects to cost of living, housing, rail, homelessness and meaningful employment. I will begin the process of fiscal transparency and answer the question; "where is my tax dollar being spent?" Secondly, public education, I want to create a system that delivers exemplary education to every student in an environment that fosters trust in the classroom, empowerment to our school leaders, and innovation in the learning process. And thirdly, infrastructure. Small boat harbors, sewers, bridges, roads, and schools. I will deconstruct and renew the archaic and inefficient manner in which our State Capital Improvement Program (CIP) dollars are allocated and spent.

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

To break down the dysfunction within our legislative process and get on with the business of governing. Through that, we can begin to build a growth economy that provides the prospect of hope for our kids, and a guarantee of meaningful employment once our children come out of either a K-12 system or an undergrad program. I will strive to pass legislation that has the best interests of Hawaii citizens at the core and promote the idea that government is the advocate of the people it governs. I will also strive to end political hijacking of the capital budget and allocate our scarce capital dollars to those priority projects that should not take 6 years to complete.

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

We as the citizens of Hawaii should enjoy a quality of life that is balanced not only by the beauty of our State, but more importantly with the means by which to enjoy it. Improving that balance will require placing more disposable income into the pockets of our people. We can begin this process by first understanding where we are spending our current tax dollars, and finding the relief from identifying waste, fraud, and abuse of government spending, and reallocate that relief into purposeful spending versus wasteful spending. We have to stop the spending with impunity that currently exists, and reduce the tax burden of the folks that are living paycheck to paycheck. I will aim to restore faith and confidence in people that the Government is indeed working for them. Perhaps we can begin by simply enforcing the laws that exist, change the laws/policy that don't make sense any longer, and instill the idea that opportunity exists to realize hopes and aspirations moving into the future.

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

I have committed the rest of my life to making sure the kids of Hawaii have a fighting chance at a prosperous future. Whether it be as the chair of the Education Institute of Hawaii, or as a member of multiple boards whose purpose is to develop and promote our children's health and future. I will promise to be in every high school in the state (27 or so) in the first year to share my vision for their future in Hawaii, and to look at the tens of thousands of Hawaii's high school kids in the face and tell them to get ready... in 8 years we as the current adults will be handing off the responsibility of the state to them... and I want to hand them a government that is working efficiently and in a good foundational position for them to make even better.