Jeri Jeffryes

Party: Republican

Age: 67

Job: Retired.

Born in Honolulu. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: Manoa

Contact: (808) 753-4498, jerijeffryesHD24@gmail.com

Job history past 10 years:
1983-2000, Central Medical Clinic, Assistant Administrator.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
No.

Other civic experience or community service:
ABWA, Hawaii Med Group Mgmt Assn, Med Group Mgmt Assn, Chinese Women's Club of Honolulu, American Chinese Univ Women, Ronald McDonald House, American Heart Assn, Palolo Chinese Home, Aloha United Way.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
I'm hardworking, dedicated and dependable.

1) Why are you running for office?
I feel that I can bring integrity and dependability to the position, while accurately representing the community.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
The top three priorities for government spending during this slow growth in State Revenue are public education, environmental protection, and health and social services.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
1) Increase tax incentives for all renewable energy generation; solar heating, photovoltaic, wind, and wave. 2) Mandate and dedicate funds towards the installation of renewable energy generation for state owned buildings. 3) Increase and accelerate the timetable for the renewable energy portfolio mandate to obtain the goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030. 4) Promote conservation.

4) What's the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai'i public schools?
Hawai`i's public schools require dedicated funding earmarked to the classroom level, which sole purpose is to teach the student. Funding can be directed towards salaries to recruit teachers, teacher and student improvement, computers, and textbooks.

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
The state should do all possible to reduce the cost of doing business in Hawaii, enact medical liability reform, and lower premium costs for workers' compensation. These reforms will allow public and private hospitals the ability to operate at lower costs, which in turn benifit the residents of Hawai`i.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
Time spent in traffic on roads and highways has a negative impact on our quality of life. I support initiatives that will reduce commute times such as the pilot program from the Department of Human Resources and the relocation of government services to areas like Kapole. The constructin of UH West Oahu will help reverse the traffic into Honolulu and reduce congestion and driving time.

7) What's the No. 1 piece of legislation you'd work to pass in 2009?
I'd like to work on passing legislation initiatives that result in a reducing of cost that our citizens have to pay for seeking attention for preventive or medical treatment. The first step in achieving this is to reduce business related cost such as liability insurance. This should be followed up with negotiation of rates with medical insurance for premiums and reimbursements.