No edge for incumbents in 51st House
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Democratic Rep. Tommy Waters and Republican challenger Wilson "Kekoa" Ho are well aware of recent voting patterns in the 51st House District.
AGE: 62 FAMILY: Wife, three sons, three daughters OCCUPATION: Bank sales manager ONE BIG IDEA: "I propose a bypass road, similar to Hale'iwa, to the Department of Transportation ... as a solution for the traffic challenges. One end of the road would start at or near the Olomana golf course and end near the Makapu'u Beach highway.ÊThe road would traverse along the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains and would serve all of those wanting to travel from Hawai'i Kai to Kailua and beyond. I would imagine that this would take away at least 50 percent or more of the traffic."
AGE: 38 FAMILY: Wife OCCUPATION: Attorney, private practice ONE BIG IDEA: "Redevelop urban Honolulu in order to protect rural Honolulu. Waimanalo is the country and one of the things important to me is keeping the country country. The development would be brought through infrastructural improvements and other incentives for developers. Similar to how the Hawai'i Community Development Authority has helped redevelop Kaka'ako, the HCDA or a similar agency could direct growth in other areas of the urban core."
In the five elections since 1994, residents in the Waimanalo-Keolu Hills district have booted out incumbents four times.
WILSON "KEKOA" HO (R)
TOMMY WATERS (D)
In 2002, Waters beat Republican incumbent Joe Gomes, who had defeated Democrat Kenny Goodenow in 2000. Goodenow had managed to hang on to the seat for four years after besting Republican incumbent Eve Anderson in 1996. Anderson had won the seat in 1994 when Jackie Young chose to forego a reelection bid in order to run for lieutenant governor.
"I guess it comes down to effectiveness," said longtime Waimanalo resident Nickie Hines. "If one doesn't do good, kick 'em out and get somebody else," she said with a laugh.
The race is expected to be close. Both men have admirers. Waters, an attorney, is considered one of the bright young
Democratic stars in the Legislature. Ho is the longtime chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board and a former
Democrat considered among the Republicans' top recruits this election season.
The winner will face a laundry list of issues brought forth by area residents. Mabel Ann Spencer, who moved to Waimanalo as a teenager 30 years ago, said the community historically has felt neglected in improvements and repairs. Renovations have been made lately to area parks, but much more needs to be done, Spencer said.
"We need to look at other facilities like our sewage plant, our rivers, the drainage, the flooding," said the co-founder of the Waimanalo Health Center and member of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board.
Ho and Waters both say crime and education are among their top priorities for the district.
"We need to treat those (drug users) who want to be treated and want to seek help, and incarcerate those who continue to use or distribute the drugs," Ho said.
He also supports Gov. Linda Lingle's drive to give law enforcement authorities more tools, such as allowing "walk and talk" procedures and loosening wiretapping laws in line with those allowed by the federal government.
"I think they're key, because it's always been said that 90 percent of all the ice that comes through Hawai'i comes through the airport," Ho said, noting that ice has affected the community profoundly.
Waters said the Kailua-Waimanalo region has too few police. To help put more officers on the road statewide, he would push the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow revenue from fines for unadjudicated traffic violations to go exclusively to the county for more police officers, rather than to the state.
State lawmakers have refused to turn over money from traffic violations to the counties, which argue that they are saddled with paying for police, emergency and traffic-violation officers.
"If crime is the No. 1 issue or the No. 2 issue, you've really got to put your money where your mouth is," Waters said.
On education, he said the key to improving the public school system is to pay teachers more. "A lot of my friends went into law because the salary was better, when they would have gone into education," he said. "You have to value teachers by paying them, and that's how you attract good people."
Waters said he also supports smaller class sizes.
One of five Democrats in the Legislature who voted in favor of Lingle's proposal for a constitutional amendment creating local school boards, Waters said he is not convinced it will help the school system, but believes "it's hard to argue against 'Let the people decide.' "
As chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, Ho has tried unsuccessfully to turn an elementary school in his district into a charter school guided by resources from Kamehameha Schools. He called it a perfect fit, because most of the students are Native Hawaiian and would thus help fulfill the mission of Kamehameha Schools.
Ho said he would continue to push for a charter school in his district, but believes it can best be accomplished through a local school board encompassing Windward O'ahu.
"I'd like to see the people have a chance to get a locally elected school board that covers the Windward District and handles the problems of the Windward District," he said. "I think that's the key."
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
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