Candidate Q&A: State House District 32 — Garner Shimizu
“Many meaningful bills addressing reform were not even heard by our currently Democratic Party-controlled Legislature.”
Editor’s note:For Hawaii’s Nov. 5 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 fromGarner Shimizu, Republican candidate for State House District 32, which covers Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Aliamanu, Foster Village and portions of Aiea and Halawa.His opponent is Democrat Micah Aiu.
Go to Civil Beat’sElection Guidefor general information, and check out other candidates on theGeneral Election Ballot.
Candidate for State House District 32
Website
Community organizations/prior offices held
1. What is the biggest issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?
I believe cost of living is the biggest issue facing our district, extending statewide.
This problem affects our quality of life with manifested outcomes of crime, drug abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, deterioration of family time and relationships and a major cause of kamaaina leaving our state.
This contributes and causes a loss of hope, identity and purpose which feeds and perpetuates these problems.
Exorbitant housing costs are at the core. Organize an emergency coalition to work with all stakeholders (city, developers, landowners, construction, financial and research institutions) to identify, streamline and correct the factors that impact housing costs. Adjustments and improvements to building codes and permitting process, financing and rental arrangements and other bureaucratic obstacles are needed.
Review the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands policy and processing to expedite award to eliminate the waiting list. How can Hawaii be “Hawaii” with no Hawaiians? Long overdue changes 100 years later for blood quantum reduction, together with land ownership and inheritance rights and additional seed money award are needed to give our host culture back their soul and identity.
These are idealistic ideas that will need great cooperation and willingness of higher levels of government above my representative position to actually become reality.
2. How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor? Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come?
There should be no concerns because it should be expected that this legislative decision, or any other decision, has been carefully vetted and supported by accounting facts and data.
Our Democratic Party-controlled state has finally taken positive action to help improve the tax burden that placed us, in one study, as the fourth-highest-taxed state in the nation. We can only wonder why it took so long to provide any kind of reasonable adjustment.
This type of action is in line with my platform and belief in conservative principles to promote economic growth.
It is likely that these tax cuts can help generate more state tax revenue by encouraging economic growth and spending; and maintain or increase the taxpayer base, for an improved cost of living will help prevent the exodus of some kamaaina, and at the same time encourage the return of some who can now make ends meet.
What is also important is the need to examine where we can reduce costs by thoroughly reviewing all departments, processes, purchases, vendor arrangements, material and service selections, etc., to identify where improvements can be made to achieve this.
3. Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government. What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better?
Follow the money. Questions 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are also related and expands the discussion on this. Additionally, we can establish modest campaign spending limits so campaigns and voters can then focus on the character and substance of the candidate, to limit the influence, persuasion and maneuvering money-driven structures can deliver.
We need to expand donor restrictions from companies that are awarded government contracts to include their officers and immediate family members of such companies, and also apply this to those with government grants.
Many meaningful bills addressing reform were not even heard by our currently Democratic Party-controlled Legislature.
4. Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature. And yet major reform proposals don’t pass. Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership?
If it’s factually confirmed and the right thing to do, of course.
A major objective for me getting elected is being part of the decision-making process that will take the necessary action and do the right thing for the people.
It is difficult to have meaningful reform when decision-makers who benefit from the current setup are the very one sthat need to make the necessary changes.
There is not “balance” or accountability with currently only six Republican representatives versus 45 Democratic representatives.
5. Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate? Why or why not?
Yes and no.
Especially for first-time candidates and non-incumbents, this will be a great option and provision that I believe will significantly encourage and increase the number and quality of candidates running for office.
However, it would be better and more fair if everyone were on the same playing field regarding campaign funding and limits, to eliminate money as a major factor and driver in public decisions and voting to elect our leaders.
I have heard legislators comment they have over $100,000 in their accumulated campaign accounts. Reviewing the Campaign Spending Commission candidate reports, which is public record, clearly reveals donors, amounts given and relationships that are in place or trying to be forged.
As touched upon in questions 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9, the influence of money whether in front-end donations, or hidden entitlements or benefits, corrupts lawmaking decisions and policy, producing compromised outcomes and destroying public trust.
A public review of my campaign spending report will show that my donors are friends, family and supporters with no special interest connections, who believe it is time for meaningful change.
6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process? Why or why not?
I support the idea in concept.
Good analysis and careful investigation of results from other states using this initiative will be helpful and needed before formal approval.
7. Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity, incumbents are almost always reelected 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?
Term limits in place for the offices mentioned should apply to our Legislature, and Congress as well.
Like questions above, consolidation of power and influence accumulated by career politicians establishing involved relationships with competing special interests creates pressure to lead one away from their fundamental purpose of doing what’s best to serve the people.
True, not all elected officials are influenced by money and become corrupt. However, based on the history of exposed official wrongdoing, recent corruption cases and others that may be operating undetected, we see how monetary influence and gain takes over. This confirms there is enough of a problem that it should be and needs to be addressed with corrections to protect us put in place.
Someone who is more concerned with getting reelected and considering special interest donors will not be energized and motivated to always learn and pursue better ways to help the people.
Term limits would be a safeguard and deterrent for unethical relationships and hidden influences that could be developed and maintained; as well as introduce new fresh energetic individuals who serve selflessly for the people. Loyal, hard-working legislators serving the public will could serve in other positions once term-limited.
8. What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature? Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session?
At the core of my commitment to serve as an elected official entrusted by the people, I will abide by my sacred oath to serve the people, not myself, so help me God. I will refuse any bribe or favors, and not put myself in compromising situations or positions where I have a conflict of interest.
Conflicts of interest need to be self-declared or identified, resulting in disqualification from involvement or participating in any way.
These conflicts need to be officially announced, and the House speaker and Senate president should not be able to dismiss unilaterally. Violators should be discharged from the Legislature and prosecuted accordingly, and barred from future service.
The Sunshine Law and open records laws should apply to the Legislature as well.
I support banning campaign contributions during the session.
Additionally, I would ideally like to see set campaign funding limits to greatly reduce soliciting donations, eliminate the power and influence of money on any candidate’s campaign and future service and level the playing field for all participants.
Comprehensive public financing of campaigns as discussed in Question No. 5 would be an improvement.
We should be public servants, of the people, by the people and for the people.
9. 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?
There’s an impractical overload of information. Reduce the number of bills each legislator can introduce and extend the session length for more time for the public to review, interact, vet and process legislation.
A priority list should be established before the session, with every bill introduced addressing a listed priority. Every bill becomes meaningful deserving a hearing, and not killed at the committee chair’s discretion.
Conference committees should be open to the public.
Impose stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists, and limit all contact and communications from them to a fully publicly transparent written testimony or recorded sessions.
Eliminate legislative procedures that allows “gut and replace” manipulation of bills.
The practice of anonymous “by request” bill introductions should be eliminated.
Regular audits of pertinent information will help all government officials and departments to be accountable and transparent, can expose conflicts of interest and highlight any corruption. It should be the goal of the Legislature, and government, to be fully transparent and accessible to the public, helping educate and inform the people with simple and clear communication of decisions being made.
Media can help be a top contributor to written and video formats the public can easily understand and digest.
10. 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?
While tourism will remain an important contributor to our economy and workforce, to prevent irreparable harm to our environment, we need ongoing and even new efforts to better identify and manage detrimental effects to our aina and quality of living. We should not and cannot be so heavily dependent on this industry and absolutely need to expand our economic base to become more self-sufficient.
The government can develop, attract and recruit viable alternative industries by offering incentives such as tax breaks, land and workforce development arrangements. High tech, health care, education, renewable energy, astronomy and sports industries are clean, environmentally friendly, higher income-producing businesses and employers.
Dedicated ag land needs to be protected for diversified agricultural such as produce, coffee, flowers, macadamia nuts, livestock and aquaculture. We should investigate other new viable crops such as industrial hemp.
We can emulate Singapore’s shipping port success by first securing a Jones Act exemption, then negotiating agreements to allow expanded free trade zone capacity at Honolulu Harbor or Kalaeloa/Barbers Point.
11. 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?
Affordable housing costs at the core of this problem is discussed in Question No. 1.
HB 1837 was a step in the right direction, and actual specific progress and effectiveness of this bill needs monitoring and confirmation to keep initiative moving forward, and continuing to add pieces where it is falling short and needs strengthening.
Similar to housing, we can stimulate business with the various stakeholders coming together to identify and correct factors and obstacles that impede our business climate. Government can and should promote and assist the economy by removing and reducing oppressive, unnecessary regulations, streamline procedures, identify and correct mismanagement and unwise spending and expose and clean up deficiencies. This can eliminate and reduce waste and inefficiency to better utilize taxpayer funds and reduce or limit taxes.
Practically all products are shipped to us. I would like to see an exemption from the Jones Act, at least for a trial period, to monitor and see if this shipping alternative can reduce transportation and consumer costs.
