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Senate District 20
Ewa Beach, Makakilo
*Denotes incumbent
Gig Greenwood
NONPARTISAN
Age: 52
Job: Commercial photographer/ artist
Years here: 30What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
Common sense and a practical point of view. As an independent business person, I am not beholden to any special interests and can give my complete loyalty to my district. My extensive travels have given me a unique and broad perspective for helping to solve our domestic problems.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
Education; economy; health care costs.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
A problem which has vexed Hawaii since statehood and has been the subject of innumerable articles, essays and debates can hardly be addressed in 50 words. However, privatization in some areas and an overhaul in many others are needed.
Brian Kanno*
DEMOCRAT
Age: 38
Job: State senator/Youth Development specialist for Ewa Beach Boys & Girls Club
Years here: 38What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
I graduated from Waipahu High and Yale University with an economics degree. I work with youth at the Ewa Beach Boys & Girls Club. What's important to me is family, making our community a better place, improving our schools and helping to build a future for our young people.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
First, improving our schools. Second, workforce development: training and skills development for employees of all ages to be job-ready for the changing job market of the 21st century. Third, meeting the transportation/traffic needs of our growing communities, especially in the corridor from the Ewa/Kapolei region to Honolulu.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
Yes, the 2000 Legislature passed the civil service modernization law, which began the process to streamline the large, bureaucratic system set up to protect workers. The process needs to be continued to develop a new system that is efficient and responsive.
Henry L 'Hank' Makini
REPUBLICAN
Age: 39
Job: Optometrist
Years here: 25What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
1) I am a husband and a father working to support and raise my family within the district I will serve; 2) I have been a small business owner for 10 years; 3) I have 13 years of experience in serving the community; 4) I have leadership experience through executive board affiliations in community, as well as professional organizations.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
1) Economy -- cost of living. 2) The quality of our school system. 3) Drug-related crime in our neighborhoods.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
Changes are needed in our civil service system. Our tax monies are being wasted by the inefficient way workers are applied, used and paid. The intentions of unions are good but too far one way can cause severe problems in the smooth running of our civil service system.
Wade A. Thode
LIBERTERIAN
Age: 39
Job: Maintenance technician
Years here: 17What are the unique qualifications you bring to this job?
I am an experienced small business owner in the state of Hawaii. I graduated from Chaminade University with an MBA in 1990. I am currently employed at the city and county as a maintenance technician, which requires working closely with budgeting and procurement departments. I have experienced and resolved many of the issues and problems created by government bureaucracy.
What are the top three issues facing Hawaii (from most pressing to least)?
a) Hawaii does not have a government that truly represents the people. b) Excessive taxation strangling the state's economy. c) The poor quality of education in our public school system.
Are changes needed to the civil service system? If so, what are they?
a) We need to decrease upper-level management bureaucracy and micro-management. b) The civil service should not compete in enterprises for profit against private industries.
