[ STATE HOUSE ]
48
Heeia-Kaneohe
Ken Ito
DemocratAge: 58 Job: Schoolteacher Past: State representative; Kaneohe Neighborhood Board
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
My educational background, military experience, community involvement and legislative accomplishments are qualifications that help me to be an effective legislator.
How would you improve Hawaii's public schools, and how would you pay for it?
Important measures dealing with conversation charter schools, more funding for repair and maintenance, and restructuring of our school system are high-priority items for me. Partnerships between the DOE and private, nonprofit education providers is a new collaborative concept that is resourceful and daring and offers unprecedented educational opportunities.
What, if anything, should be done to improve Hawaii's business climate?
Government should create a climate for economic activity to prosper by keeping taxation and regulations at appropriate levels and improving government efficiency and responsiveness.
Sam Moku
RepublicanAge: 38 Job: Legislative chief of staff Past: Board member, Kaneohe Neighborhood Board
What qualifies you to be a state representative?
I am a lifelong resident of Kaneohe, and my legislative and community experience will aid me in assisting constituents and making a positive difference in the quality of life for families. It's time to restore public confidence in government and bring about a paradigm shift in how we do government.
How would you improve Hawaii's public schools, and how would you pay for it?
First of all, the morale and trust of our teachers is at an all-time low. How can we expect our schools to improve if the soldiers in the trenches cannot trust the general(s)? I would first like to restore the teachers' trust, and that does not cost anything.
What, if anything, should be done to improve Hawaii's business climate?
I would eliminate the mandatory prepaid health insurance for small businesses with 10 or less employees. Then I would allow small businesses with 10 or less employees to receive a tax credit if they are able to stay in business for three, five, seven, 10, 15+ years.
