[ STATE HOUSE ]

19
Diamond Head

Mike Abe

Democrat

Age: 50 Job: Attorney, private practice Past: Chairman, Kaimuki Neighborhood Board; city and Kauai County attorney

What qualifies you to be a state representative?

I have the educational and professional background, broad work and life experience, the understanding of local, state, national and world issues and how one affects the other. I believe I can bring new ideas and energy and bring people together to work for the best interests of the people.

What is the most pressing issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

The "ice," substance abuse and attendant crime problem is the most pressing issue for my district.

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

No, not into seven districts. I spoke personally with the governor's CARE Committee's consultants, Dr. William Ouchi and former Canadian School District Superintendent Mike Strembisky, and neither one advocated breaking up the BOE. ...

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Barbara Marumoto

Republican

Age: 65 Job: Full-time legislatorWhat qualifies you to be a state representative?

Experience yields results. After I pointed out to Finance Committee that a student and his wheelchair were being carried up the stairs daily, we got an elevator for Kalani High's second-floor library. ... We got authorization for A/C. ...

What is the most pressing issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

Quality education is the No. 1 issue. We deserve a first-class university and excellent public schools. Good teachers should be paid accordingly. Schools need flexibility to structure curricula to meet the needs of its students. ...

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

After a ... district superintendent asked me why the DOE would not allow local school officials to make decisions for themselves and insist ... on ... top-down orders, I decided that the school districts need greater autonomy. ...

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