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THE HOT LEGISLATIVE RACES

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GOP’s Romualdez
calls for tax break;
Democrat Cabreros
pushes service

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By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Republican Martin Romualdez is a deputy prosecuting attorney while Democrat Ben Cabreros has deep roots in community service.

Both are first-time candidates running for the District 30 (Kalihi Kai-Palama) House seat vacated by Democrat Romy Cachola, who recently won election to the City Council.

"Community involvement is my biggest asset, plus the district is mostly Democrats and that's a big advantage for me," said Cabreros, 52, a past president of the Oahu Filipino Community Council

Romualdez, 35, a Yale graduate who earned his law degree at the University of Hawaii, is hoping residents in this district will not vote strictly according to party lines, which in the past has favored Democrats.

Romualdez has focused his campaign on education, crime and a tax break.

"I favor reducing the size (of the Board of Education) and making it more district-oriented."

Romualdez would like to see the "weed and seed" program that has been successful in the Mayor Wright Homes area extended to his district.

"As a legislator, I'd be making laws with the knowledge of laws I've been dealing with and implementing for the past six years," he said. "I know how the language of the law sometimes does not carry out the intent of the law."

Romualdez thinks the state should give people, especially those struggling to make ends meet, a tax break.

"Let them keep more of their money by getting rid of the general excise tax with regard to medical services, food sales and rentals," he said.

Cabreros is stressing his community service record to voters.

"As past president of the Oahu Filipino Community Council, I helped to set up a sports basketball program at Kalakaua Gym that's keeping kids off the street," Cabreros said.

"We've adopted Kalihi Street from Nimitz Highway to Kalihi Valley and kept it clean. I would encourage that kind of community service as a representative."

Cabreros would also like to upgrade school facilities in the district.

"Through my working experience as a banker in Kalihi for 21 years, people know me and I feel close to them," he said.

District 30 Kalihi Kai-Palama Martin Romualdez (R) Occupation: Deputy prosecuting attorney Background: Assigned to the Career Criminal Unit, which deals with repeat offenders Ben Cabreros (D) Occupation: Principal stockbroker at Mortgages of America Background: Past president of Oahu Filipino Community Council

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