Anel Montes

Party: Republican

Age: 41

Job: Senior Operations Research (OR) Analyst. Metron, Inc.

Born in Neptune, NJ. In Hawaii since 1994, arrived from MD

Contact: 808 366-3014, tito@titoforsenate.com

Web site: www.titoforsenate.com

Job history past 10 years:
1989-2005, United States Navy, Naval Officer; 2005-2007, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., Senior OR Analyst; 2007-2010, Metron, Inc., Senior OR Analyst.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
No, this is my first campaign for public office

Other civic experience or community service:
I have been serving our country and community since 1989. I have deployed to the Arabian Gulf twice and served for two and a half years in Japan.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
I am a father of three daughters.

1) What qualifies you to be a member of the state Senate?
I have extensive real-world leadership experience. As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, I have held many crucial leadership positions where I was responsible for one of our nation's most precious resources: our servicemen and women. I have an advanced degree in operations research, which is an applied mathematics field that helps decision makers save money and make better decisions.

2) What do you feel is the biggest problem facing the state and what would you do about it?
Our ailing economy. I would remove the General Excise Tax (GET) from food, rent, and medical expenses. This tax hurts the elderly, retired, and lower income families the most. Double the marginal income levels to qualify for each tax bracket. Give small businesses a net tax break based on the number of employees. Lower healthcare surcharges and unemployment insurance taxes.

3) How would you have voted on House Bill 444, the civil unions bill? Explain.
I would have voted NO. To allow HB444 to pass would be setting a dangerous precedent in our laws and it would be damaging to our Hawaii families. I truly believe that all people are created equally before the law, but there is no equality in harming many in our culture in order to legitimize the lifestyle actions of a very small few.

4) How can the state help the city address the problem of homelessness?
Provide incentives for ownership and support policies that encourage and reward private institutions that provide safe/decent housing so the transitory homeless can take advantage of job skill programs. Prevent homelessness by growing our economy and removing the "red tape" that accounts for 1 out of every 5 dollars in housing costs. Create collaborative partnerships to end homelessness.

5) What is your stance on increasing the general excise tax to balance the budget and/or fund needed programs?
I am against increasing the GET. The GET is a very deceptive tax. It applies to food, rent, medicine, and services, and the tax is applied at multiple levels. This multiple level taxing is called a "pyramiding effect". This makes everything we buy much more expensive. The GET is also a very regressive tax, meaning when this tax is raised, it hurts low and middle income families the most.

6) What is your stance on gambling?
I am against any form of legalized gambling coming to Hawaii. Lotteries and casinos hurt low-income people the most, and Hawaii does not need the added criminal element that is usually associated with gambling.