Four experienced in legislation seek Senate seats
| • | Map: State Senate Districts 24 and 25 |
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
When candidates for the 24th and 25th state senatorial districts in Windward O'ahu walk their community, people tell them that education, the economy and crime are their major concerns.
Residents also worry about the future and what it holds for the next generation, whether there will be suitable jobs for their children and whether they can afford to live in Hawai'i when they retire.
The candidates are proposing localized school districts, school vouchers, cutting taxes, cleaning up government and redirecting state spending.
Candidates for the 24th Senate District are Republican incumbent Bob Hogue, 49, and Democrat Pono Chong, 32. District 25 candidates are Republican incumbent Fred Hemmings, 56, and Democrat Jackie Young, 68.
PONO CHONG (D)
• Occupation: Special assistant to the director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs • Family: Single • One big idea: Restructure the state Department of Education's funding to place more money in the classrooms and less in administration. BOB HOGUE (R)
• Occupation: Broadcaster/writer • Family: Married, four children • One big idea: Decentralize schools, giving them their own funding and decision-making power. To do that requires amending the state constitution whereby the people decide how money is spent on schools. Senate 25th District FRED HEMMINGS (R)
• Occupation: Owner of Sports Enterprises, a consulting company • Family: Divorced, three adult children, one grandchild • One big idea: People need to make government accountable by electing people who have the courage to change the way things are done. "Business as usual has proven one thing: It doesn't work." JACKIE YOUNG (D)
• Occupation: Director of marketing, American Cancer Society; teacher at Hawai'i Pacific University • Family: Divorced, four adult children, three grandchildren • One big idea: Tax holidays for families and seniors. Families would get a back-to-school tax-free day the first weekend in August to buy school supplies; seniors would get a break every Tuesday.
The four candidates all have experience in the Legislature and are familiar with its process.
• Address: PMB 290, 45-934 Kamehameha Highway i Suite C, Kane'ohe
• Address: 1188 Akumu St., Kailua
• Address: 490 Paumakua Way, Kailua
• Address: 212 Luika Place, Kailua
Young served in the state House from 1990 to 1994. She ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1994 and state Senate in 1996.
Chong, a first-time candidate, has worked at the Legislature for two years on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Hemmings served in the state House from 1984 to 1990, ran for governor in 1990 and was elected to the Senate in 2000.
Hogue is completing his first term that was just two years because of reapportionment. He said his constituency appreciates his willingness to talk to them. A familiar face through years of television sports broadcasting, he wants to give people more confidence in state government and listening to them is the first step, he said.
Hogue's solution for the economy is to get more money into people's hands through tax cuts, incentives and credits. He'd like to see the money in the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund returned to the people who paid into it.
"It should never be used as if it were excess tax money because it isn't," Hogue said.
Chong said the state should restructure the way it spends money. To do that the state must refocus its priorities and stick to them. Some services may have to be reduced or eliminated and others may have to pay for themselves.
For example, he said, the state supports students at the University of Hawai'i by supplementing their tuition. There was a time in Hawai'i's history when that was necessary, he said. But today, people are making more money and the state continues to pick up the tab.
Chong said he doesn't endorse doubling tuition, but it's an area worth looking at.
"I have the same value of helping those who can't help themselves, those in need, but a larger part of our population is not part of that group anymore," he said.
District 24 includes portions of Kane'ohe from Castle Junction to Waikalua Road on the makai side of Kamehameha Highway and to Kea'ahala Road mauka of the highway. In Kailua the district includes Maunawili, Pohakupu, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, Kane'ohe Bay Drive, 'Aikahi and Marine Corps Base Hawai'i.
Its population is 54,297 with a mixture of suburban and rural homes of middle-class families with a racial mix of 37 percent Caucasian, 17 percent Japanese and 6 percent Native Hawaiian. Filipino and Chinese are the next largest racial groups there.
District 25 includes portions of Kailua from Mokapu Boulevard to Wana'ao Road, Lanikai, Keolu Hills, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai, Queen's Gate and Portlock.
Its population of 43,627 is diverse, encompassing a small beach community in Kailua, a rural and agriculture lifestyle in Waimanalo and a suburban community in East O'ahu. The district includes some of O'ahu's poorest and wealthiest people with 33 percent Caucasian, 14 percent Japanese and 11 percent Native Hawaiian. Filipino and Chinese make up the next largest racial groups there.
Hemmings said this election is about challenging the status quo and he wants to continue his mission to try to change government.
In education, Hemmings said he supports "targeted" vouchers for special-education students so their parents can get them the services they need.
He said Hawai'i has enough money to run government, but the money has to be redirected and used for what it is designated.
"I personally identified $94 million for appropriated positions that have not been filled and the departments used it for other activities," Hemmings said. "This is budgetary fraud. I want to change all that."
His opponent, Young, also wants change in government. The former state representative suggested dividing the education system into smaller complexes, providing public financing of campaigns and getting communities to provide services such as Kailua's spouse abuse shelter.
Although people said their main concern was the economy and education, when pressed they said the environment also was very important and needed protection, Young said.
"If you want to play in the water, you have to keep it clean," she said.
Young, a seasoned campaigner, said she would advocate for women and children. A breast cancer survivor, she said she recognizes the importance of public policy in protecting lives. By supporting preventative programs the state can save lives, Young said.
Hemmings is hoping that Republicans can pick up more seats this election thus guaranteeing a balanced government and what he calls a real chance for changes.
"No one wants the state to continue on the path we're on," he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com. or 234-5266.
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