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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 John Clark III, Democratic candidate for state House District 41, which covers a portion of Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe and Barbers Point. His opponent is Republican David Alcos.

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?

We have three serious challenges in Ewa and Kapolei: education, economics and the environment. With the recent transfer of 400 acres of land from the Navy to the City and County of Honolulu, we must be deliberate in how we allow development.

All too often, community development is placed in the hands of developers who seem to lack insight into what the community really needs. For example, wouldn’t it be nice to have a public swimming pool in the Ewa/Kapolei area? When I was elected to the Ewa Neighborhood Board in 2015, I was appalled at the lack of air conditioning in our schools. I worked diligently with other leaders to install AC in our schools, but a community pool has remained elusive.

Moving forward, we must prioritize a vision for our future; we need to plan for tomorrow — today. Accordingly, we must find innovative ways to optimize and integrate an improved education system, better economic opportunities for area residents and a more proactive approach to protecting our environment.

… Not just protection for the ina and our precious water; I’d like to make our community safer for pedestrians, bikers and drivers; we all need to live together.

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?

The bottom-line fact is that living in Hawaii is expensive. Every dollar counts as families do what we can to make ends meet. As the primary breadwinner for our family that includes my wife and young-adult daughters, I remember when a trip to local restaurants was a night of family fun that could be enjoyed for less than $40. Now, that dinner tab can easily reach $100; and that is definitely not fun.

As a small-business owner, I also understand the importance of revenue versus spending, and I am having difficulty understanding how the massive tax cut can be sustained. In other words, despite the governor’s statements regarding cuts to projects that were not likely to materialize, there is a growing consensus that valuable services will be affected.

Accordingly, I’d be interested in seeing the math behind the purported sustainability of the cuts. I am most disappointed to see cuts in the budget for the Department of Education and its never-ending facilities improvements list.

I was shocked when the DOE and others allowed nearly half a billion dollars to lapse this past session. That, to me, is unacceptable, and it is a major reason why I’m running for office.

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?

As long as everyday citizens continue to allow the lack of enforcement, pay-to-play will continue. It’s as simple as that.

I love our spirit of aloha. In fact, I often ask people the question, “Where can you always find Aloha?”

The answer is “Wherever you give it.”

However, in a world where we are all doing our best to raise and protect our families, enjoy our community and plan for a better future, other unscrupulous people are investing enormous amounts of energy and backscratching to tip the scales in their favor. It’s not right and, in some cases, it’s illegal.

One of the most innovative reforms I’d like to see is to utilize community network television to continuously broadcast key meetings that can have the ability to display the antics of dishonest, corrupt and unethical legislators, police and other community leaders who hold a special, elevated place in our hearts, minds and communities.

If the Kealoha corruption cases have proved nothing else, they showed us how bad things can really get. The worst part about those cases is the fact that there were undoubtedly more people in their orbit who knew exactly what was going on.

Where are those people now?

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?

I served on active duty for over three decades in the United States military.

During the course of those 30-plus years, I worked for some outstanding leaders who showed great care and concern for their respective teams.

On the other hand, I also worked for (and with) what some people would call “straight-up criminals.” On many occasions, I stood up to and called out unacceptable behavior by senior officers. More often than not, standing on my principles cost me politically. However, I have found that my life is a much more enjoyable journey when I do what is right.

In the final analysis, if I am elected by the residents of District 41, it is my job, my mission and my life’s work to stand on the principles of being a good and faithful servant of the people of our district.

If that means “going against leadership,” I will stand on my principles; it’s the only way I know how to live, lead and serve.

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

In general, I support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate. Politics and elections in Hawaii are fascinatingly different than other places. Not many people like to talk about how many voters don’t necessarily vote along ideological lines, but rather other, more overtly distinguishable characteristics.

However, in the overall scheme of things, there is so much money flowing without knowledge or assistance of the candidate … so much money that public financing and the implied restrictions won’t likely make a significant difference, except to perhaps limit the reach of candidates who don’t have friends with deep pockets.

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

In general, I support a statewide citizens initiative process.

However, monies from political action committees and similar organizations have pretty much ruined politics forever.

Ironically, the court case “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission” ultimately had the effect of disenfranchising millions and millions of Americans by simply mitigating the age-old adage of “one person; one vote.”

I say it’s ironic because, in my opinion, the case did nothing to unite the citizens of the United States of America. Instead, it opened the floodgates of spending by corporate entities.

And in this country, it’s important to remember that corporations have almost as many rights and privileges as real humans, with a few glaring distinctions:

Corporations can get fined, but the corporate entity will never go to jail.

If you and I break the law, you can be assured jail time is part of the equation.

Corporations, on average, have a far lower tax rate than you, he, she and me.

A citizens initiative process would be subject to big-dollar marketing and campaigns. Accordingly, the fight would not be fair; corporate interests would likely still prevail.

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?

There are pros and cons associated with mandating term limits for elected officials.

Instead of arbitrary term limits, I’d like to see a Board of Advisors who objectively grade and publicize how well elected officials are governing.

When faced with objective information regarding their elected officials, it would be up to the voting public to keep the person who represents them … or not. As a state representative, I believe it is my duty to listen and collaborate with my (new and long-serving) colleagues and assist them in their respective ideas and efforts. Statewide issues include:

Facilitating an overall increase in the number of affordable housing units.

Increasing efforts to better understand and prepare for the effects of climate change.

Ensuring developers plan and proceed in accordance with community input and expectations, within reason.

Better preparation for natural disasters.

Strategic upgrading of the physical infrastructure.

Creating a long-term solution for addressing the houseless population.

Finding ways to leverage the tourism industry in a manner that has not previously existed.

Though I plan to vigorously represent the Ewa Plain, I must also consider the broader picture and aloha aina.

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?

I am absolutely committed to ensuring accountability at the Legislature.

As a member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board since 2015, I am very familiar with the state’s Sunshine Law; our members were rather fanatical about respecting the spirit and intent of the law.

Yet, again … with enormous amounts of money flowing through the politics machine, I am not entirely confident all legislators abide by the Sunshine Law in the same manner we do on the Ewa Neighborhood Board.

And … unless and until we stop believing in fairy tales, we really should require the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature, and we definitely should ban campaign contributions during session.

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?

Let’s be creative and utilize public-access television for something innovative like “C-SPAN for Hawaii.”

It would be a series of awesome civics lessons, and we could see who really does what, when the Legislature is in session.

Also, a weekly synopsis of sessions should be created, published and distributed so residents would be able to better understand how their respective elected officials voted … and how/if their elected officials actually add value to not only their respective areas of responsibility, but also to the State of Hawaii, in general.

Being an elected official is not just a job; it carries significant responsibilities, all of which have associated long-term repercussions and consequences.

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?

With such a rich and storied history, and some of the best weather on the planet, Hawaii remains an ideal destination for millions of tourists. Over the years, the tourism industry has been a mixed blessing for the state. Billions of dollars have flowed into the state. However, there are also costs associated with using the state as a popular resort stop.

Some costs are quantitative and can be estimated and computed to determine how much it costs the state to maintain and repair the infrastructure that is more heavily trafficked due to tourism.

Other costs are more difficult to see. 

Accordingly, I really like the idea of promoting eco-tourism. We can be as “creatively restrictive” as we want to be in our evolution to charge fees and market expectations for tourists who visit our home.

As an elected official, I would make economic diversification one of my top 5 priorities, and I would establish an economic development plan within the first 100 days in office. And, though feelings are mixed on the possibility of allowing gambling in the state, perhaps it’s time to give off-shore gambling a try; enough talk … let’s try and see what happens.

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?

Instead of offering massive tax cuts, the governor and the Legislature could have earmarked those funds for immediate investment in income-restricted housing, increased cultivation of ag land, massive job-training programs and possible tax incentives and/or grants to small businesses that can provide real, new expansion in areas that desperately need improved economic opportunities.

The United States subsidizes numerous industries that could do very well without those subsidies.

The state of Hawaii needs to get innovative … we need to create innovation labs to generate ideas on how to effectively navigate allocations of tax revenue, albeit in a manner that is respectful to the neediest citizens and families, as well as to the most productive members of our society.

As a society, we must remember that it is our responsibility — our kuleana — to provide protection for our people, as well as this sacred place we all call “home.”

Indeed, it takes a village to not only raise a child, but to also ensure care and concern for our entire village, especially those who can no longer care for themselves. We just have to be respectful, resourceful and (perhaps) imaginative about how we do it.

Am I my brother’s keeper?

Yes.