Republican
Age: 59
Job: Lawyer
Background: Former lieutenant governor; ex-Family and Circuit Court judge; first administrative judge of Drug Court Program
Republican
Age: 59
Job: Senior pastor, New Hope Metro
Background: Former District Court and Circuit Court judge on Oahu
Do you support the constitutional amendment to allow public money to be spent on private preschool? Why?
I believe this question is premature. The question for me is whether there is the right program and curriculum in place for a program like this. It really is a matter of priorities.
Should the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs be allowed to pursue residential development in Kakaako makai? Why?
For me this isn’t an OHA, development or even a Kakaako issue. On a larger level, government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. We should not be providing exemptions or benefits for one organization over another. Government should provide a balanced playing field, not unfair, uncertain one.
What would you do to combat homelessness?
My proposals for homelessness address over two-thirds of Hawaii’s homeless. First, a peer-to-peer National Guard outreach program to “leave no service person behind” for homeless veterans. Second, Homeless Court provides a fresh start to homeless with warrants or citations, thereby immediately impacting the number of chronically homeless statewide.
What is your one big idea?
There are many big ideas on the horizon for issues including affordability, education. It is extremely important to me to deliver practical and creative solutions that I feel confident I can implement as governor. I don’t want 400 pages of unfocused, undelivered promises at the end of my first term.
