2018 Primary Election Candidates

Click to select a candidate

Name on ballot:

RILEY, Tim

Running for:

State Senate

District (if applicable):

Political party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

N/A

Current occupation:

Board certified mental health counselor

Age:

Previous job history:

Alcohol and drug abuse counselor, Department of corrections mental health counselor, Department of human resources child mental health counselor

Previous elected office, if any:

Delegate to state convention 2016-2018

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

I did my BA work in Political science at Mercer University, my MS work in community counseling at Georgia State University and my PhD work at Clark-Atlanta University. I served as the assistant commissioner for DeKalb county (Atlanta and metro area) district 6 in the 1990’s. I was the democratic party nominee for State Senate district 40 in (Atlanta) Georgia in 1988 then again from the 47th district (Athens) in 2008, 2010 and 2012 before I retired and moved to Hawaii. I served on the State of Georgia’s statewide council for HIV prevention. I also worked for the State of Georgia’s department of corrections as a rehabilitation counselor in the state prison system and then the State of Georgia’s department of human resources a a child counselor in the state mental health hospital system prior to opening my private practice as an alochol and drug abuse counselor. Delegate to Oahu county convention 2018. Delegate to Hawaii State convention 2016 and 2018.

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

Traffic; Houselessness/Homelessness; Affordable Housing/purchasing and renting. Traffic on the westside is beyond intolerable. This issue is literally causing a problem in quality of life here on the westside. Our current administration has had ample time to resolve the issue and yet here we are STILL wasting time, money and stress on this issue. We must build alternate routes to this side. We must build a roadway with strict reverence to historical and spiritual sites being protected. We must access federal funds to do this. We must become a squeaky wheel until we get this issue resolved. Our local representation should have been working with our national representation to have fixed this LONG AGO!!! No more excuses are acceptable, GET IT DONE!!! I have been very active and vocal here on the west side with regards to the issue of houselessness/homelessness. We must help the houseless/homeless population gain safe dwellings. I have already begun reaching across the isle to build coalitions with the GOP and other Democrats to address these issues. I was even able to get some better known westside GOP and Democratic party signatures on my petition to place my name on the ballot for this State Senate seat. There are many things we can do to fix the houseless/homeless issue. It is not an easy task but a cost effective and obtainable solution to the problem is within reach. Regarding general affordable housing we must think outside the box and work to secure alternative means of funding for TRULY AFFORDABLE housing. One way to do so would be to either allow the lottery to come in to our state and earmark some of the revenue for programs to help assist buyers of resident occupied homes or permanet resident renters. Another alternative method of funding would be hemp farming or legalized cannabis consumption and farming. We can earmark some of the taxation of the products for these issues. Hempcrete is also a way to help fix the houseless/homeless issue. Please understand I am not a consumer of any mind altering chemicals/alcohol at all. My career in private mental health counseling was spent as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor so I do not enter into this issue without deep understanding and the ramifications of the issue.

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

Fixing the EXTREME HIGH cost of living in Hawaii and getting money into the pockets of our citizens!!!

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

I have outlined several alternative methods of increasing our revenue in Hawaii. With some of these new sources of income we can help provide for better education in public schools, charter schools and even helping home schoolers. We can also support programs to help provide for TRULY AFFORDABLE housing thus helping to fix the houseless/homeless issues. I am determined to get some money back into the pockets of our states citizens NOW.

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

I will work hard to make the citizens of the Waianae coast proud of their State Senator. I will be available to all my constituents. I will work directly with the Native Hawaiian constituents to know that they have a voice and will work to make their desires clearly heard in the legislature. I am determined to make our Waianae coast a better, safer and happier place to live. I believe we must live PONO, protect the AINA and provide for our KEIKI and KUPUNA!!!