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House District 4 - Hawaiian Acres | Pahoa | Kalapana

Gary Thomas (R)

Republican
Age: 58
Job: Executive director, Sure Foundation Church
Background: Retired Air Force colonel; formerly ran Hawaii Youth Challenge-Big Island

Do you support the constitutional amendment to allow public money to be spent on private preschool? Why?

I’ve seen no DOE plan on when/how the DOE would fund/implement PS. Given the empirically supported return on investment in providing preschool education, the need is there now. My thought is to support the amendment, though I would like to see the DOE plan to implement standards, and low-income access.

What is your one big idea?

My plans to improve the Puna economy, reform education, and build hope in our kids will continue, but right now will have to be viewed through the prism of the impact of the lava flow, which is already a game changer. My priority right now is disaster preparedness and relief.