ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ

Editor’s note:ÌýFor Hawaii’s Nov. 8 generalÌýelection, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions.

The following came from Joe Kent, a Libertarian candidate for state Senate District 11, which includes Manoa, Makiki, Punchbowl and Papakolea. There are twoÌýother candidates, Democrat Brian TaniguchiÌýand Republican C. Kaui Amsterdam.

Go to Civil Beat’sÌýElections GuideÌýfor general information, and check out other candidates on theÌýGeneralÌýElection Ballot.

Name:ÌýJoe Kent

Office seeking:ÌýState Senate, District 11

Occupation:ÌýVice president of research, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Age as ofÌýAug. 13, 2016:Ìý34

Place of residence:ÌýMakiki

1. This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want big changes in how government is run. What would you do to change how the Legislature is run?

Hawaii’s State Capitol has a video system installed that is clunky, fuzzyÌýand takes days to upload. Many of the meetings at the Legislature aren’t even recorded, so the public is left in the darkÌýon important issues.

I would start a company that wouldÌýinstallÌýHD video feedsÌýin the public testimony rooms atÌýthe Capitol, from all the best angles.ÌýMy system would provideÌýhigh quality liveÌýfeeds to local news outlets for a subscription to keep the project sustainable.ÌýJust think how often local news reporters have to lug their gear into the Capitol and wait for hours, just to capture a five-second sound byte. My company would save the stations time and manpower,ÌýandÌýprovide a higher quality video feedÌýthan is currently offered.

Finally we could capture that hilariousÌýmoment when a senator forgets he’s on camera and the truth accidentallyÌýslips out. Finally we would see a zoomed in shot of theÌýpassionate testimony of the public. Plus, we may finally get to see what lawmakers are reallyÌýlooking at on their iPads and laptops!

2. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizen’s initiative process. Do you support such a process?

Yes, except only to repeal laws. It should always be easier to repeal laws than it is to create them.

3. Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic Party establishment. Should this change, and if so, how?

When most people vote, they just look for the (D) or (R) or (L)Ìýon the ballots. But here’s a simple solution: Get rid of those lettersÌýon ballots. Then, voters would actually need to do research on who the best candidates were.

Getting rid of the party labels would give candidates more incentive to actually be clear about their views, and it would give allÌýcandidates an equal chance.ÌýPeople would actually have to read the Civil Beat candidate Q&As in order to learn who to vote for.

4. What specific steps would you take to strengthen Hawaii’s lax lobbying, ethics and financial disclosure laws?

I would consider the recommendations from local non-profitsÌýon this matter. However, I am cautious to strengthen the laws, because sometimes these types of laws can get in the way of people who are trying to do good in the world.

For example, there was once a man who was passionate about his children’s education, and he got involved in the legislative process. He went to the Legislature to testifyÌýso much, heÌýcalled himself Captain Watchdog.ÌýAny law which would infringe upon Captain Watchdog’s privacy, finances, put his family in danger or hinder his ability to provide public input at the Legislature would actually hurt the legislative process.

I would be cautious aboutÌýstrengthening any law which would allow the government toÌýinfringe upon the public’s right to privacy.

5. Would you support eliminating Hawaii’s high fees for access to public records when the request is in the public interest?

Yes. The public has a right to know what’s going on behind the scenes with their tax dollars.

Public records in Hawaii are so difficult to find — partially because the agencies themselves cannot find the records.ÌýWhy should the public pay for the time it takesÌýgovernment agencies to find records? If it’s so difficult to find the records, then perhaps the agencies could save timeÌýandÌýmoney by being better organized.

6. Voters complain their elected officials don’t listen to them. What would you do to improve communication?

Last year, I visitedÌýa town called Sandy Springs, Georgia, and they had a wonderful idea! TheyÌýhired a call center to field questions from the public. TheÌýidea that worked so well,ÌýIÌýmade aÌýdocumentaryÌýabout it.

If I were elected,ÌýIÌýwould hire a call center for Hawaii’s government. The number would beÌýtoll-free,Ìý24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls would be answeredÌýwithin one ring, and all questions would be answered promptly, or scheduled with a quickÌýfollow-up.ÌýIf the call center did not provide adequate service, the contract would be reopened to a better call center.

7. What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will you do about it?

Anyone who lives in Makiki, Manoa or Punchbowl knows that rent keeps going up, up, up!ÌýThis is partially because there simply isn’t enough housing. At the same time,Ìýthere are folks who are ready to build housing, but it takes years to get through the most restrictive land and buildingÌýregulations in the country.

Allowing our beautiful city to be a city will go a long ways toward preventing urban sprawl. It’s the only solution which helps provide everyone a place to live, while keeping the country, country.

8. There is a desire to grow the economy through new development, yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources. How would you balance these competing interests?

A city that isn’tÌýallowed to grow up, must grow out. However, growing beyond the city limitsÌýtends toÌýcreate urban sprawl which uses up open space. Reducing regulations on city height, zoning and building restrictions would allow our city to grow up, whichÌýwould help provide a place for everyone to live while preserving the rest of our beautiful island paradise.

9. What should the Legislature do to improve police accountability?

Update UIPA section 92F-14(b)Ìýwhich exempts police from providing information about misconduct. Updating this law to allow more transparencyÌýwould have a huge impact in increasing accountability for police officers in every county.ÌýWe would also be able to acknowledgeÌýpolice who were doing a good job, and serving in the public interest. It’s important to remember that not all police officers take advantage of their powerÌý— but it is concerning thatÌýHawaii’s transparency law shields bad actors from the public’s view.

10. Hawaii is the fastest-aging state. What would you do to ensure we’re taking care of our kupuna?

Have you ever wondered why there are so few hospitals in Hawaii? The reason stems from a governmentÌýregulation which restricts the amount of hospitals. It’s sad that groups that want to start new hospitals or servicesÌýthat could serve our kupuna must beg for permission from the government to obtain aÌý“certificate of need.” These certificates are almost impossible for new hospitals to obtain, because the older hospitals don’t want the competition.

Relaxing the “certificate of need” requirement would allow more hospitals to service Hawaii. This would greatlyÌýhelp ourÌýkupuna find access to the care they so desperately need, and it would provideÌýall generations in Hawaii full access to proper care.

11. What would you do to improve Hawaii’s public education system?

In Hawaii, ourÌýchildren are stuck — theyÌýaren’t allowed to leave the school in their geographic area.ÌýFamilies must apply for a , and very few are ever granted. This provides fewer options for island families who look for better models.

However, relaxing geographic exemptions would be a great first step inÌýallowing school choice.ÌýThis could be done through the weighted student formula, or through an education savings account, which would allow the money to follow the child to the new school.