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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 from Trish La Chica, Democratic candidate for state House District 37, which covers portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge and Waipio Gentry. Her opponent is Republican Taylor Kaaumoana.

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?

The most pressing issue facing District 37 residents is public safety and the growing perception that Central Oahu is becoming less safe. This concern stems from an increase in homelessness, several highly publicized crimes and emergencies like wildfires that have threatened our community.

I believe that addressing public safety effectively requires close collaboration with law enforcement and the community. Last summer, we brought our neighborhoods together by hosting a public safety community event, which was attended by over 120 residents, including Chief Logan from the Honolulu Police Department and the mayor. This initiative led to the establishment of 10 neighborhood security watches in the district, fostering a stronger sense of safety and community.

Additionally, following the Mililani Mauka fires, I hosted a wildfire prevention and disaster preparedness workshop for the Central Oahu community. We also cleared the largest homeless encampment in Kipapa Gulch, addressing a significant safety and public health concern.

As representative, I will continue to engage with my constituents to address critical issues and craft responsive legislation. My office remains committed to being accessible and working hand-in-hand with my community to build a safer Central Oahu.

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?

I strongly support tax reform that lessens the burden on local families, especially low- and middle-income families. The recent income tax cut enacted via House Bill 2404 reforms Hawaii’s tax code by doubling the standard deduction that state taxpayers can claim beginning next year. It also adjusts income tax brackets and standard deductions upward in a series of steps as Hawaii’s minimum wage increases. This means working families will see their take-home pay increase by several thousand dollars a year.

HB 2404 will be implemented over seven years, which gives us ample time to monitor implementation and secure adequate funding for critical state services. As a community champion and advocate for working families, I am committed to ensuring that tax relief does not come at the expense of essential services.

By carefully evaluating state needs, addressing government spending and considering other revenue-generating proposals, we can maintain the balance between providing tax relief and preserving the quality of services that our community needs. 

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?

Having worked as a journalist investigating corruption in the Philippines, I have witnessed firsthand the damage that corruption can cause. This experience has deepened my commitment to transparency and disclosure, especially regarding relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers.

While state lawmakers have made meaningful progress in addressing pay-to-play politics by enacting laws that restrict fundraising and contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session, we still lack robust enforcement and punishment for those who violate these rules.

To address this, we must fully fund and staff the State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission, ensuring they have the resources to implement harsh penalties for those who betray the public trust. Additionally, I strongly support requirements to scrutinize the connections between lobbyists and lawmakers to maintain integrity in our government.

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 you are an incumbent, can you point to an example of a reform that you supported?

Yes, I would back good-government proposals even if it meant going against House leadership. My voting decisions are guided by the needs and voices of my constituents, and I actively engage with the community to inform my stance on various issues.

I have always supported proposals to strengthen campaign financing laws, reform election procedures and improve transparency and accountability within government.

This year I championed the passage of Senate Bill 2687, which prohibits the distribution of deceptive and fraudulent deep fakes during an election period. While artificial intelligence can benefit us in many ways, its potential for misuse cannot be ignored. Deep fakes are manipulated media of a person’s voice, image or video, depicting actions or statements they never made. This can be damaging not just to candidates but to any individual when used irresponsibly. SB 2687 also protects our elections by preventing deep fakes from eroding public trust in government through the spread of misinformation.

5. Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate? Why or why not?

Hawaii already has a partial public financing option that requires candidates to receive a certain number of $100 donations to qualify. I support this public financing option for candidates who choose to participate because it gives qualifying candidates additional matching funds from the state to help them run for office.

However, public financing is not without its challenges. One of my concerns is the cost to taxpayers because the state currently does not have the resources to fully implement comprehensive public financing successfully. I will be supportive of full public financing if we can truly commit the resources for a program that is carefully designed to prevent potential abuse.

Research indicates that small donors tend to be more ideologically extreme than average voters, which can result in more extreme candidates gaining prominence. This trend is exacerbated by the nature of online fundraising, where extreme positions covered by the media often generate more donations and attention.

Given these challenges, it is essential that we continuously evaluate and improve our systems to ensure they effectively promote fair and democratic elections without unintended negative consequences.

6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process? Why or why not?

No, I do not support a statewide citizens initiative process. While I see the value in giving voters the opportunity to pass measures that may not receive legislative action or funding, I am concerned about this tool being used to advance special interests.

Nationally, we’ve seen how this process can be misused by well-funded groups to push their own agendas. For instance, in 2018, Big Tobacco spent $12 million to block a ban on flavored tobacco products in San Francisco, although voters ultimately upheld it. Similarly, in Colorado, oil and gas companies spent $40 million to defeat measures that would have increased regulations on drilling near homes and schools.

The high costs associated with running initiative campaigns often mean that only wealthy groups can effectively utilize this process, skewing the democratic process. Given these challenges, I don’t believe Hawaii currently has the resources or capacity to effectively implement a statewide citizens initiative process. It is essential that any such system we consider truly serves the public’s interests.

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?

I support term limits for state legislators. While I recognize the value of keeping effective incumbents in office, I also understand the community’s frustration with the lack of progress at the state level. Introducing new energy and perspectives can benefit the Legislature.

To address this, I support placing a constitutional amendment before voters to decide on legislative term limits. If term limits are imposed, I believe in a staggered timeline to balance continuity and effective turnover, allowing both parties to recruit strong candidates.

As for the specifics, I propose a limit of up to 16 years for the Senate and up to 12 years for the House. This duration allows members to gain valuable insight and leadership experience while preventing the stagnation and lack of urgency that can come from long-term incumbency. 

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?

Campaign contributions from lobbyists are already prohibited during the legislative session.

While the Sunshine Law, designed to promote transparency in government meetings, requires advance public notice of all meetings, agenda posting, and the ability for the public to attend and testify, it is not practical for the state Legislature due to our size and condensed schedule. The legislative process is packed into just a few months, making it challenging to comply with these requirements and still function effectively.

I do support limiting the number of bills considered each session. This approach would allow lawmakers more time to thoroughly consider each proposed bill and effectively champion certain issues while providing the public with better opportunities to be informed and voice their opinions.

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?

I believe that many of the hurdles standing between our state and a fully transparent legislative process stem from the short legislative calendar. Unlike the year-round schedules of our local county councils, our Legislature’s condensed timeline requires us to consider a vast amount of legislation, hold numerous hearings and make critical decisions in a limited period.

As I stated in the previous question, restricting the number of bills each legislator can submit can help ensure that more time and attention are given to each proposal. 

I also appreciated the House’s initiative to provide greater visibility into the final stages of the legislative process, where critical decisions and compromises are made. This past session, new conference rules required chairs to disclose the changes made to the bill, what the differences were between the House and Senate versions and how much is being agreed to if funding is involved. 

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 diversifying our economy is important, the reality is that no single industry currently matches the spending and tax revenues generated by tourism.

It is important however, to balance economic stability and quality of life for local residents. This includes diversifying within tourism by developing sectors like ecotourism and sports tourism. Additionally, we need to manage tourism in areas that impact local neighborhoods, where traffic congestion, inadequate parking, trail degradation and trash left behind are significant concerns.

One of my priorities has also been to focus on workforce development and sustaining industries with competitive salaries. Investing in education and training programs will equip our workforce with the skills needed for high-demand fields such as skilled trades, technology, health care and renewable energy. By creating a skilled and educated workforce, we can attract and sustain industries that offer competitive salaries and long-term growth.

Furthermore, supporting local businesses to grow and succeed while encouraging innovation can stimulate economic diversification. Providing incentives for startups and small businesses, particularly in tech and green industries, can foster a more resilient and varied economy. 

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?

As representative, I’m committed to focusing on workforce development, affordable housing and child care to help middle-class and working families thrive in Hawaii. In the 1960s, kids had a 90% chance of doing better than their parents; today, it’s less than 50%. This decline in opportunity makes it hard for our youth to stay in Hawaii.

Creating an educated and skilled workforce will help our youth build careers here with minimal debt. We must create thousands of competitive, local jobs and provide affordable housing so families don’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Currently, many households spend close to 50%, leaving little room for savings or emergencies.

I’ll also tackle the everyday costs that burden our paychecks, including the rising costs of property taxes, insurance and health care.

Finally, child care is crucial. As a mother, I understand what’s broken with the system and I won’t give up until we fix it. In Hawaii, about 66,000 children under 5 need care while their parents work. Prioritizing child care and after-school care will help parents stay in the workforce. Expanding state-funded prekindergarten programs to more families will also enable more women to return to the workplace and contribute to our economy.