Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Campaign 2000
A Look At The Hot Legislative Races
Voters in the rapidly expanding House District 39 (Wheeler-Mililani) have a choice between candidates emphasizing political experience and experience outside politics. Education, transportation
top issues for bothSchools, economy top issues
in Mililani-WaipioBy Debra Barayuga
Star-BulletinRepublican Guy P. Ontai, a teacher at Kamehameha Schools, is making a second attempt to represent the area by emphasizing experience that does not involve the Legislature.
"I start things," he said, such as a martial arts school in Mililani and the first community chess club in Hawaii. He also helped start the Kamehameha Schools Faculty Union.
Democrat Charlotte Nekota, a real estate agent, said she wants to continue the 20 years of service she has invested in the community.
She was senior aide to Sen. Randy Iwase for 10 years and was appointed in May to represent the district when Rep. Ron Menor was named to take her boss's place in the Senate.
Nekota says her door is always open to constituents. "I'm a real balanced person, and if people have an issue important to them, I work hard to get their issue resolved."
Ontai says his lack of political experience makes him an ideal candidate.
"If voters are looking for new ideas, I have broad and deep experience in leadership and management," said Ontai, who lost to incumbent Menor in the last election. "I felt he lost touch" and was not representing the community, Ontai said.
Both candidates feel transportation and education are hot issues in the district.
Ontai feels a drastic, systematic approach to education is needed to improve the public schools. For one thing, principals, vice principals and district superintendents should be selected on the basis of merit, schooling or training rather than seniority, he said.
Knowing how and where money is being spent in the schools is also important, he said.
Incentives should be provided to businesses to relocate to Mililani so residents do not have to commute far to go to work or attend school, which would also help ease the traffic congestion to town, he said.
One of Nekota's priorities is securing construction funds for a new elementary school in Mililani Mauka.
She said she will push to get Kamehameha Highway and the old Kipapa Gulch bridge upgraded and outfitted with bike lanes. "I don't want to see a situation where there's only one road in and out of Mililani," she said.
Also, because of the emerging Waiola Central Park, road improvement is necessary, said Nekota, a longtime supporter of bus transportation.
She also feels the flow of Waiahole water to the Central and Leeward areas is essential for diversified agriculture and the district's burgeoning population growth.
Charlotte Nekota (D) HOUSE DISTRICT 39
Wheeler-Mililani
Occupation: Real estate agent
Background: Former senior aide to Sen. Randy IwaseGuy Ontai (R)
Occupation: Small-business owner, teacher
Background: Retired officer, Army Corps of Engineers
Republican newcomer Chita Caindec-Stewart, who is hoping to unseat Democrat incumbent Marilyn Lee in the House district representing Mililani and Waipio, says she makes up for a lack of political experience in outspokenness, persistence and desire. Schools, economy top
issues in Mililani-WaipioBy Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin"If elected, I will prove myself and will definitely make a difference," she said. "I'm here for the community."
Lee is seeking her third term in the state House by touting her deep roots in the community and extensive community service.
Education and the economy top the list of concerns for both candidates.
Caindec-Stewart supports creating more business and education partnerships and rewarding participating businesses with tax credits.
Hawaii needs to be more friendly to businesses that provide jobs for young people to stay here rather than go to the mainland for jobs, she said.
Lee supports early intervention for children and providing job training for families on welfare. The less stressed people are about making ends meet, the more successful they will be at helping their kids be better prepared to learn in school, she said.
Lee also would like to decrease class sizes, ensure students have adequate textbooks, and keep up with repair and maintenance of schools.
Caindec-Steward promises never to vote for increasing taxes and said if elected she will fight to get rid of the 4 percent general excise tax on medical services, food and rent. "These are very essential and should not be taxed."
While Mililani has a reputation for being a safe community, it has its share of crime, Caindec-Stewart said. She believes the neighborhood watch program should be expanded and supports boosting police visibility to help curb crime.
With her background as a registered nurse, Lee feels a responsibility to push for solutions to the long-term health care crisis.
"The issue of aging and health care and how we'll deal with that is a huge one and, I think, is one of the more pressing issues," Lee said. But there also needs to be a balance between resources going toward prenatal care and elderly care, she said.
Caindec-Stewart, who volunteered for Linda Lingle's unsuccessful campaign for governor, says she has to overcome the name recognition her incumbent opponent enjoys and the tendency for voters to favor a candidate just because they belong to a party they have been voting for all their lives.
Chita Caindec-Stewart (R) HOUSE DISTRICT 38
Mililani-Waipio
Occupation: Retired project administrator
Background: Volunteer for Linda Lingle's bid for governor; helps raise funds for the Hawaii Lupus Foundation and St. Andrew's PrioryMarilyn Lee (D)
Occupation: Legislator; registered nurse
Background: Served two terms in state House; remains active in schools her four children attended, serving on the SCBM council and the PTSA and supporting the teen health center
