Clayton Hee

Party: Democratic

Age: 56

Job: Senator, State of Hawaii.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: 'Ahuimanu

Contact: , horses@hawaii.rr.com

Job history past 10 years:
1998-2002 OHA Trustee. 2002-2004 Self-employed business consultant. 2004-2008 State Senator.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
1982 Representative, Moloka'i & Lanai; 1984 Senate, Kailua-Kaneohe; 1990, 1994, 1998, 2000, OHA Trustee & Chairman; 2004 Senate, Kaneohe-Kahuku, won. 1988 Senate, 2002 Lt. Gov., 2006 Congress, lost.

Other civic experience or community service:
2008 Hawaiian Humane Society Lifetime Achievement Award; Chairman, Native Hawaiian Culture & Arts Program; Member, Board of Directors, Hawaii Visitors Bureau; D.A.R.E., Juvenile Diabetes Association.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
Member and competitor, Hawaii Rodeo Association; fluent speaker of 'olelo Hawai'i.

1) Why are you running for office?
To serve and champion windward 'Oahu, my home district for my entire life; to balance the need for affordable housing, and good-paying jobs with preserving our natural resources and green space for future generations to enjoy.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
1. The Economy-stimulating growth and employment opportunities for decent-paying jobs. 2. Education-funding and delivering our obligation of a free public education for all. 3. Transportation-alleviating traffic burdens while protecting our natural beauty.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
We should seak all reasonable uses of natural resources including solar, wind, wave and hydro-electric energy as a means to diminish our dependance on fossil fuels and provide alternatives.

4) What's the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai'i public schools?
We must encourage teachers to meet higher standards and provide means for same such as continuing education, certification and licensing, and compensate them accordingly. When I was a school teacher the more education you had, the higher your pay.

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
The state should do all it can to work with the federal government to provide reimbursements owed to hospitals and doctors in a more timely manner.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
The price of housing for our younger generations. We must work with the private sector to find solutions that require developers to build a greater proportion of affordable homes as a condition of zoning changes and permitting approvals.

7) What's the No. 1 piece of legislation you'd work to pass in 2009?
Create incentives to improve the economy of Hawaii; all other concerns can be addressed if we have good-paying jobs for our residents and a healthy and growing economy.