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Senate District 12
Tantalus, Makiki
*Denotes incumbent
Carol Fukunaga*
DEMOCRAT
Age: 52
Job: Senator
Years here: 52What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
As a technology, public access, and new economy advocate, I would like to help Hawaii become a successful player in the global, knowledge-based economy. We need to provide all Hawaii students with access to computers and the Internet, as well as digitizing and streamlining government services.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
Rebuild Hawaii's economy, retool K-12 education and workforce skills-building programs, and expand long-term care options for families.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
State and county governments should quickly implement the changes in last session's civil service reform legislation in order to become faster, more flexible and responsive to changing consumer needs.
Aaron R. Peterson
REPUBLICAN
Age: No age given
Job: Economic consultant/ self employed
Years here: 9What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
I am not a politician. If elected, I will not become a politician. Instead, I will be myself, which means I will be, at times, politically incorrect. I will occasionally say and do the wrong things, and thats a good thing. We need fewer politicians and more real people in office.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
Our education system needs to be improved. We are the only state that doesn't have school districts, thus our schools are mired in red tape and bureaucracy. The first step to improving our schools is to create independent school districts, extracting schools from the bureaucracy of state government.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
Civil service system reform should start with performance-based compensation. Currently, there is no financial motivation for our government employees to work harder. We have a lot of inefficiency and complacency in government, and can eliminate much of it by financially rewarding hard work and efficiency.
