[ STATE HOUSE ]

33
Aiea-Halawa

Jerry Coffee

Age: 70 Job: Professional speaker; naval officer (retired) Past: Author, MidWeek columnist; prisoner of war, North Vietnam

What qualifies you to be a state representative?

I bring a wealth of life experiences, maturity, leadership and perspective to the position. Having owned a small business ... and being victimized ... by crime, I feel my firsthand knowledge will make me a more effective advocate. ...

What would you do to combat the state's crystal methamphetamine abuse epidemic?

I would support the governor's plan to enact an effective wire-tap program, reinstate the Walk and Talk program at the airport, and hit a better balance between punishment and rehabilitation ...

What can the Legislature do to improve Oahu's traffic congestion?

I would work with the City and County administration to come up with common-sense solutions; to break the inertia to reverse Piikoi and Pensacola, for example. There can be creative, "out of the box" solutions not yet tried ...

Age: 34 Job: Wong and Oshima, attorneys at law, associate Past: State representative; majority whip

What qualifies you to be a state representative?

Years of volunteering with Hawaii's youth and community groups have strengthened my commitment to fight for needed changes. ... with fresh ideas and independence, I'm working hard at the Legislature. ...

What would you do to combat the state's crystal methamphetamine abuse epidemic?

Fund more prevention programs to stop the growth of the epidemic. Provide treatment ... to break the cycle of addiction. Give ... resources to shut down drug houses and build more prisons ..

What can the Legislature do to improve Oahu's traffic congestion?

Moving departments to Kapolei encourages migration of businesses dealing with government ... fast-track UH West Oahu. Make it a "true" second city to divert some traffic. ...