Karl Rhoads knocked state Rep. Bev Harbin out of office in last month's Democratic primary. Republican Collin Wong came close to beating longtime incumbent Kenneth Hiraki for the same 28th House District seat two years ago.

Rhoads and Wong will now go head to head in next month's general election for the right to represent the region from Iwilei to Makiki in what's shaping up to be a key election battleground.

While neither man has held elected office, both are familiar with the state Capitol. Rhoads has been a legislative aide to Rep. Marilyn Lee, D-38th (Mililani, Mililani Mauka), the past six years. Wong has been a policy analyst for Gov. Linda Lingle and an aide to Sen. Gordon Trimble, R-12th (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown), for the past three years.

The 2000 U.S. Census shows the district as older and less affluent than other Hawai'i communities. The median age of those in the district was 40.6, higher than the statewide median age of 36.2.

The median household income reported was $29,274, significantly less than the $52,280 reported on O'ahu.

In the 2000 U.S. Census, 20.6 percent reported themselves as Chinese, compared with 4.7 percent statewide. In contrast, only 12.8 percent described themselves as Caucasian, less than the 24.3 percent reported statewide. It also has significantly higher percentages of Koreans and Vietnamese than statewide totals.

Downtown Neighborhood Board Chairwoman Lynne Matusow said public safety is a big issue, noting that the number of prostitutes in the downtown area appears to be on the rise. Matusow said board members want lawmakers to enact stiffer sentences for those convicted of the crime.

Additionally, Matusow wants lawmakers to fight for installation of so-called "red light traffic cameras," designed to capture motorists who violate red lights or other traffic laws, at busy downtown intersections.

Homelessness also is a critical issue for the neighborhood, Matusow said. "That's something that the state needs to come to grips with," she said. "And it's not going to be solved overnight."

Crime and housing are top-of-mind for Wong and Rhoads.

Wong said he will fight for tougher sentencing laws for habitual drug offenders. "I'd like to work to ensure that the rights of criminals are never protected over the rights of the victims," he said.

Wong said he will support Weed and Seed and neighborhood watch efforts because "it takes a real community effort."

Rhoads said there is a critical need for more prison space to help guard against repeat offenders. "Basically, you need to commit a very serious crime to get any kind of prison time," he said.

While police and prosecutors have been doing their jobs, many convicted of medium-level crimes spend no time in prison. "There's essentially no punishment for a whole range of crimes," Rhoads said.

Rhoads said the state can provide tax credits and other incentives to encourage private developers to build affordable housing.

"I personally think developers can make money building affordable housing, you just can't make as much," he said.

Wong said that the state needs to enter into more public-private partnerships to increase the housing supply.

"The state can offer favorable financing for developers who will commit to building affordable housing," he said. "The state should also offer tax incentives to landlords to expand the affordable rental market."

Hiraki, a Democrat, had held the House seat for 19 years when he resigned last year to become a lobbyist. Lingle appointed Harbin, a small-business advocate, to the seat. When news reports revealed Harbin owed $125,000 in state taxes and had misdemeanor convictions for writing bad checks, Lingle and Democratic leaders asked her to resign. Harbin refused.

Wong, in his first attempt at elected office, lost to Hiraki in the general election two years ago by a scant 152 votes. This is Rhoads' first campaign.

This year, Wong was unopposed in the primary. Rhoads defeated Harbin by nearly 1,438 votes in a three-way race that included Carlton Middleton.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.