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Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Nov. 8 General Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Michael Wilson, Republican candidate for state House District 17, which includes Niihau, Omao, Koloa, Poipu, Lawai, Kalaheo, Eleele, Hanapepe, Makaweli, Kapalawai, Waimea, Kekaha and Mana. His opponent is Democrat Daynette Morikawa.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.

1. What is the biggest issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

Government overreach and government overregulation.

Really teaching our children and not indoctrinating them to a belief system that is anti-American and immoral.

Bringing back a government based on constitutional law.

2. Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now, and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism. What, if anything, should be done differently about tourism and the economy?

Focus on eliminating burdensome government regulations that hinder business growth. Also streamlining government operations to scale back government spending in an effort to lower the state budget, thus enabling a reduction in taxes.

These measures would help attract other businesses to come to Hawaii by making it a more business-friendly environment.

3. An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by, a problem that reaches far beyond low income and into the middle class, which is disappearing. What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here?

Lower taxes by shrinking the size of government, which would put more money in the hands of the middle class.

4. Hawaii has the most lopsided Legislature in the country, with only one Republican in the Senate and only four in the House. How would you ensure there is an open exchange of ideas, transparency and accountability for decisions? What do you see as the consequences of one-party control, and how would you address that?

Try to encourage more conservative candidates to run for office to bring back liberty and the constitutional concept that we are “public servants” and that “we the people” are whom we serve.

5. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process?

Yes, I do.

6. Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity, incumbents are almost always re-elected in Hawaii legislative races. Should there be term limits for state legislators, as there are for the governor’s office and county councils? Why or why not?

Yes, being in government without limits can lead to widespread corruption, and can make public servants feel entitled to be in that position.

7. Hawaii has recently experienced a number of prominent corruption scandals, prompting the state House of Representatives to appoint a commission tasked with improving government transparency through ethics and lobbying reforms. What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature? Are you open to ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law and open records laws to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session?

Yes.

8. How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public? Opening conference committees to the public? Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists? How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open?

Getting the public more involved and being open to those who we serve.

9. Hawaii has seen a growing division when it comes to politics, development, health mandates and other issues. What would you do to bridge those gaps and bring people together in spite of their differences?

Count on the lord Jesus to bring people together for the benefit of “we the people” whom we serve.

10. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed numerous flaws in Hawaii’s structure and systems, from outdated technology to economic disparity. If you could take this moment to reinvent Hawaii, to build on what we’ve learned and create a better state, a better way of doing things, what would you do? Please share One Big Idea you have for Hawaii. Be innovative, but be specific.

I personally believe in herd immunity and would have let coronavirus run its course. Just like any other virus, colds or influenzas have been dealt with for an eternity.

As a note: My age and other respiratory issues put me in the “at risk” category, but I am willing to risk my well being for the common good of “we the people” whom we serve.

Sweden proved that was the sensible thing to do. This would have prevented the irreversible harm to our small businesses and general public that the lockdowns have incurred, i.e., bankruptcies, increased suicides and increased drug use.