Andy Smith

Party: Republican

Age: 35

Job: Governor's Liaison - West Hawaii - State of Hawaii.

Born in Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey. In Hawaii since 1994, arrived from New Jersey

Lives: Kailua

Contact: 937-3082, Andy@GoAndySmith.com

Web site: www.GoAndySmith.com

Job history past 10 years:
1997-2002 - Hawaii Baking Co., Manager. 2002-present - State of Hawaii - Governor's Liaison - West Hawaii.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
2002 - did not win; 2004 - did not win.

Other civic experience or community service:
West Hawaii Fisheries Council Member, Queen Liliuokalani Village Association board member, Governor's West Hawaii Community Advisory Council member.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
President and Director of Hawaii Island Hoops, where I help young student athletes achieve their goals of going to college through sports and education.

1) Why are you running for office?
I am offering to serve as the next state representative because we need to have positive leadership that will work with our communty with new ideas to accomplish our goals. I’ll always have an open-door policy and will work with everyone to make our state a better place to live. My experience in state government has taught me how to solve community problems and provide common sense solutions.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
Education â€" supporting local and charter schools as well as the expansion of the new UH West Hawaii campus. Health Care â€" Making sure that our local hospitals have the funding they need to operate efficiently. Traffic â€" Supporting the Queen Kaahumanu highway widening project.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
I would work to expand and increase our use of renewable energy, primarily geothermal, and increase capacity from 33% to 75-80% of renewable electricity over the next 20 years. It is imperative that we catch up with the rest of the world.

4) What’s the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai’i public schools?
I believe the best way to improve our Hawaii public schools is to start with localizing our school boards. The one size fits all operating system is not practical, especially for neighbor island schools. This re-directing of resources can bring 90% of every dollar to the classroom, give local authority for teachers and administrators to decide what programs and curriculum work best for their school.

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
Pass meaningful legislation that will directly increase revenue to our hospitals. Medical insurance reimbursements need to increased from the lowest in the nation to the national average. With this legislation, this will allow our hospitals to have an increase cash flow account, and enjoy a better than break even scenario and relieve our hospitals from facing the financial crisis we have seen.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
Actually working together to make sure that our quality of life issues are being addressed. As a legislator, I will work with anyone and everyone who is willing to improve education, health care access, and helping our state toward self suffiency. By doing this, we can actually make the proper changes to make our quality of life better for the people of Hawaii.

7) What’s the No. 1 piece of legislation you’d work to pass in 2009?
Increase medical insurance reimbursement rates to ensure our health care centers have a positive cash flow and be able to operate without fear of layoffs or closure. It is most important to bring Hawaii's reimbursement rates up to the national average, and provide the proper legislation to ensure our hospitals will be able to operate properly, and give the people of Hawaii that peace of mind.