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House District 30

Kalihi Kai, Palama

*Denotes incumbent

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Ben Cabreros

DEMOCRAT
Age: 52
Job: Principal stockbroker at Mortgages of America
Years here: 39

What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?

I have been involved in community service for the last 30 years. I devoted most of my life helping people in the community. As president of Oahu Filipino Community Council, we continued the Adopt-A-Highway Project. We cleaned Kalihi Street from Nimitz Highway to Kalihi Valley. We sponsored sports program for the kids, health clinics for everybody and provided scholarships to deserving student.

What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?

Education: We need more funding for our schools to upgrade the equipment and facilities. We need to take care of the teachers to make sure that they are getting paid like their counterparts on the mainland, especially to well-trained teachers in special education.

Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?

I am doing special research on this issue and can give an accurate answer after I get all the facts.

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Lincoln 'Abing' Jacobe

DEMOCRAT
Age: 30
Job: Hotel supervisor, Sheraton Waikiki
Years here: 30

What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?

I am the only candidate who has ever served on the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board, which handles community concerns from Kalihi residents and businesses. As the Education Chair on the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board, I recommend preliminary laws for the people of Kalihi.

What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?

1) Education 2) Economy 3) Crime

Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?

I intend to examine both sides of the civil service system and if elected I will be able to make my final decisions in elected office.

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Martin Romualdez

REPUBLICAN
Age: 35
Job: Deputy prosecuting attorney since 1991
Years here: Not given

What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?

Experience as a legislative intern for the Republican staff with the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress; four years in the prosecutor's office, with the last two years dealing with repeat offenders and others with a history of criminal activity; significant community involvement in the area of cultural arts and theater, as well as assisting high school students interested in a legal career. ...

What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?

First: the need for a more balanced government, where the decisions are made in an environment of healthy opposition rather than in the vacuum of one-party rule. Second: the need for an educational system that is responsive to the needs of Hawaii's children as well as to the demands of a new millennium. Third: reforms in the area of taxation; taxes should not be so oppressive as to hinder economic participation ...

Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?

Yes. Initially, we need to streamline the current system in order to eliminate the laws that just don't make sense. Some negotiation responsibilities should be surrendered by the state to the counties, the University of Hawaii, and state hospitals. It makes little sense to leave the bargaining to people who are too distant from the problem to comprehend a solution.

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Shane D.K. Yaw

DEMOCRAT
Age: 23
Job: Financial service representative
Years here: 23

What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?

My uncompromising belief in God and His son Jesus Christ and my philosophy that a legislator is a public servant and is accountable to the public which he serves.

What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?

a) Crime

b) Education

c) Economy

Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?

I do believe drastic changes are needed in our civil service system. Such changes that I support are the consolidation of departments, offices and agencies with light workloads; and, the motivation or eventual removal of unproductive government workers.