Drug crackdown, jobs among priorities of 45th candidates

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

A diverse range of issues is on the minds of candidates for the state House of Representatives 45th District, which covers the Wai'anae Coast from Ka'ena Point to Ma'ili'ili Stream, including Makua and Makaha.

In 2002, Shimabukuro bested Republican and then-incumbent Rep. Emily Auwae by a 3-to-2 margin. As further testament that no one party can lay claim to the district, the gubernatorial votes were split relatively evenly. Democrat Mazie Hirono received 2,321 votes to the 2,232 for Republican Linda Lingle.

From cracking down on the drug epidemic to bringing new job opportunities to the Leeward Coast region, District 45 candidates have a number of priorities.

Corless said the district's chief worries are drug abuse and crime. He said that he would fight to push through bills that would be harder on criminals and help law enforcement put them away, as advocated by the Lingle administration but shot down by the Democratic Legislature.

"That's one of the biggest concerns I hear," Corless said. "There needs to be more cracking down on crime and drugs," such as through "stricter penalties for multiple offenders."

Despite repeated attempts to reach him at his school office and at home, Kila did not return calls to The Advertiser.

But in a questionnaire he returned to The Advertiser, Kila said "we need to build strong family units, promote good education and connect people to community resources to combat drugs."

Shimabukuro said one initiative she wants to push through for the district is a contraflow lane on Farrington Highway that would operate during morning and afternoon rush hours, similar to what is done along Kalani'anaole Highway.

The state Department of Transportation has rejected the idea, Shimabukuro said, citing concerns about emergencies on the only route in and out of the Leeward Coast. That issue will be eased when an emergency-access road being constructed by the city is complete.

Sooalo said he would push for affordable housing for the area's elderly and working poor by encouraging public/private partnerships on district land.

"By affordable housing, I mean the mortgages should cost no more than $800 to $1,200 a month," he said. "This is targeted at people who can already afford to rent places in which they live." People paying that much for housing should be able to own, not just rent, he said.

Statewide, Sooalo said, he believes the state is not doing enough to win competitive grant money to help pay for school improvements. He said he would set up a federal grants unit within the state to go after such money.

Shimabukuro said she would fight for universal healthcare. "I just think it would be a great way not only to provide much-needed healthcare to everybody, but also to help small businesses," she said.

Corless, a self-employed small- business man, said one of his top priorities statewide is to enact legislation that would loosen regulation of business, such as lessening health insurance requirements for employers and to support workers' compensation reform measures sought by Lingle. "We need to loosen up a lot of the restrictions that are being placed on small business," he said.

Kila, chairman of the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1998, has said previously he favors getting the Department of Education to focus more resources on preschool and kindergarten.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.

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BILL CORLESS (R) Age: 42 Occupation: Self-employed wedding videographer, independent producer of cable television programs Family: Married, two boys (18 and 17) One big idea: "I want to reduce the gasoline tax. The folks in Wai'anae, the vast majority of them, commute into town, and gas prices being what they are, that would make a big impact for this area."

GLEN KILA (R) Age: 51 Occupation: Principal, Kamaile Elementary School Family: Unknown One big idea: Unknown

MAILE SHIMABUKURO (D) Age: 33 Occupation: Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i Family: Single One big idea: "I want to propose an artificial reef pilot project in Wai'anae at shallower depths for surfing, shore fishing, skin diving and erosion control. I think artificial reefs can be a great way for Hawai'i to increase its fish population and recreational activities, and prevent erosion."

BARRY SOOALO (D) Age: 37 Occupation: Government planner; attorney Family: Married, two boys (15 and 9) One big idea: "I advocate for a two-year college in District 45, specifically in Makaha Valley. The college would make higher education more easily accessible for the residents of the Leeward Coast. It would also provide good jobs for the next 10 to 20 years as the campus is built ... and permanent jobs once the campus is up and running."

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