Mickey Vierra

Party: Republican

Age: 26

Job: Commercial Account Specialist, Valley Isle Motors, Ltd.

Born in Makawao. In Hawaii from birth

Lives: Makawao

Contact: (808) 264-0046, mickeyvierra@gmail.com

Web site: www.mickeyvierra.com

Job history past 10 years:
Jan 2002 - May 2002, State of Hawaii, House of Representatives, Office of Representative Kika Bukoski, Legislative Aide. Feb 2000 - Nov 2000 Dolphin Galleries Accounting Specialist

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

Other civic experience or community service:
Former Youth Board President - Boys & Girls Club Upcountry. Former Youth Advisory Board Member - Coalition For A Drug Free Hawaii. Volunteer â€" Adopt A Highway, Active Supporter - Habitat For Humanity.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
Young Person of the Year Rotary Club of Upcountry, Governor's Kilohana Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.

1) Why are you running for office?
I represent youth I am a strong advocate for the generation X. Some of the important issues that will my priority while being a State Representative is housing, education, healthcare, living wages, and infrastructure so that the children of Hawaii can have a better quality of life. I feel that in order to do so I will have to listen to my constituents and learn from the wisdom of our Kupuna.

2) With state revenue growth slowing, what are your top three priorities for government spending?
Social Services: Work on; unemployed citizens find jobs, educating our children for drug prevention, providing proper treatment for drug users, assisting our homeless to help reintroduce them into the workforce and communities. Public Safety: We need to expand and maintain all of our safety systems including; Police, Fire, Medical and disaster response. Alternative Rewneable Energy Programs.

3) What steps should the state take to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel?
We need to more aggressively pursue bio-fuels, wind, solar, and other renewable sources readily available to us. We also need to provide funding and incentives for these developments. I think that we should create programs so that alternative energy can become affordable for all of Hawaii Citizens.

4) What’s the No. 1 thing needed to improve Hawai’i public schools?
The number one thing that we need to do to improve the public education is decentralizing the administrative oversight. Creating local school boards, and bringing the important decisions in the hands of the Principals, Teachers, Parents and the Community. Will allow more money to get into the classroom and will improve the quality of education for Hawaii’s Youth.

5) How should the state respond to financial difficulties at public and private hospitals?
We need to provide additional funding in our state hospitals so we can provide proper services to the people of Hawaii. We also need to look private hospitals as a business in Hawaii, and treat them like every other business they will survive as the market will bear.

6) What is the No. 1 quality-of-life issue facing Hawai'i, and what would you do about it?
The problem at hand is that the children of Hawaii cannot afford to live here. They are forced to look outside Hawaii for better paying jobs, lower housing cost, or better education opportunities. I will work to improve our housing situation, create opportunities for new businesses with better paying jobs, and work on the quality of education in Hawaii.

7) What’s the No. 1 piece of legislation you’d work to pass in 2009?
I will create new programs to assist in promoting new alternative energy solutions, and make alternative energy affordable for all of Hawaii's people. Support large and small scale projects for alternative energy so that Hawaii can become less dependent on fossil fuels.