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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 Diamond Garcia, Republican candidate for state House District 42, which covers portions of Varona Village and Ewa, and Kapolei and Fernandez Village. His opponent is Democrat Anthony Makana Paris.

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?

House District 42, which includes Kapolei, Hoopili, Ewa Villages, Varona Village and portions of Ewa, is one of the fastest-growing districts in the state of Hawaii. With new developments and community projects underway, we are experiencing significant growth. However, as I talk to residents across District 42 — from the plantation homes of Ewa to the Hawaiian Homesteads, and within the villages of Kapolei and Ewa Gentry — a recurring concern is Hawaii’s outrageous cost of living.

No matter the income level, every family feels the pinch of inflation. Hawaii’s high cost of living can be attributed to regulations that stifle our local businesses and a government that takes too much hard-earned money from overburdened taxpayers. This financial strain is driving too many families to leave Hawaii, as they can no longer afford to stay in our beautiful state due to our failing economy.

Over the past two years, I’ve introduced bills aimed at empowering Hawaiian Homestead waitlistees and beneficiaries. One of my initiatives focuses on enabling beneficiaries to leverage their lease (once awarded) to qualify for a mortgage loan. By modernizing the Hawaiian Homes lease to function like standard long-term leases, equity value would be established, allowing most beneficiaries to qualify for mortgage loans without having to return to the waitlist and endure further delays.

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 was honored to support and advocate for the passage of House Bill 2404, the income tax cut. I do not foresee potential cuts to government services as a result of this tax reduction. While there is a common argument that tax cuts might lead to revenue shortfalls, it is important to consider that our state has consistently maintained a significant budget surplus for several consecutive years — amounting to billions of dollars.

Smart tax cuts are necessary to empower our local families while ensuring that essential government services remain fully funded.

We must also address inefficiencies within our state departments. Each year, millions of dollars go unspent. I am dedicated to collaborating with my colleagues to identify underperforming areas and reallocate or reduce funding accordingly. This approach will help us further alleviate the tax burden on Hawaii’s residents.

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?

I’m committed to supporting legislation that enhances transparency and accountability among elected officials. Too often, politicians lose sight of their duty to serve their communities, prioritizing the will of House leadership, political action committees and special interests instead.

To address this, I believe one of the most impactful reforms would be the implementation of term limits, as recommended by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct (Foley Commission).

Our House Republican Caucus has introduced House Bill 1703, which would establish term limits (12 years) for legislators in both the House and Senate. Term limits would help mitigate entrenched political interests and ensure a continuous influx of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. I will persist in advocating for term limits in upcoming legislative sessions, as this measure is essential for restoring public trust in our government and ensuring elected officials remain accountable to the people they serve.

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?

Absolutely. Throughout my tenure, I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to advocating for reforms that benefit our community and our state as a whole, even when it meant challenging House leadership. One notable example is House Bill 627, introduced by the House Republican Caucus, which called for significant reforms and good-government proposals. This initiative aimed to address crucial issues and promote transparency in our legislative processes.

Another critical area that requires reform is our education system. Unfortunately, Hawaii’s public schools are not meeting the standards they should be. One effective approach to enhancing our public education system would be the implementation of “local elected” school boards. This would empower families in each community to have a direct say and oversight over the education their children receive. Currently, Hawaii operates with a single unelected school board governing over 260-plus schools statewide.

To address this issue, I and my colleagues introduced HB 630, which proposed establishing multiple elected school boards — one for each county. This reform would’ve decentralized decision-making and allowed communities to tailor educational policies to their specific needs.

I’ll continue to support and champion such reform proposals in the Legislature.

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

No, I don’t support comprehensive public financing of elections. I believe that using taxpayer dollars to fund campaigns undermines the principle of individual responsibility and accountability in elections. Each candidate should be responsible for securing their own campaign funding through private donations from supporters who believe in their vision and policies.

Public financing could also lead to taxpayer dollars funding campaigns that do not align with the values and beliefs of the taxpayers themselves. It is essential that candidates earn the support of voters through their own merit and persuasion, rather than relying on public funds.

Furthermore, public financing systems can be complex and costly to administer, potentially diverting resources away from more critical government priorities.

Ultimately, I support a competitive electoral process where candidates compete based on their ideas, principles, and ability to connect with voters, rather than on the basis of publicly funded resources. I think it’s better to keep campaign funding transparent and let voters decide based on what candidates stand for and how well they connect with the community.

In the end, I believe in a fair election process where candidates compete on their own merits and ideas, not on taxpayer-funded resources.

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

I absolutely support implementing a statewide citizens initiative process in Hawaii. It’s a common-sense tool that should be available to the people in a constitutional republic and democratic society like ours. Providing citizens with the ability to propose and vote on initiatives empowers them to directly shape our laws and policies, ensuring their voices are heard in the legislative process.

But I wouldn’t stop there. In the 2024 legislative session, I introduced HB 1723, a bill that proposed a constitutional amendment (ConAm) to establish this very process. This amendment would grant the people of Hawaii the right to initiate ballot initiatives, referendums to approve or repeal laws directly through the ballot, and the power to recall state officials and judges when necessary.

I believe deeply in enhancing citizen participation and accountability in government. By instituting these measures, we strengthen our republic and democracy while ensuring that our government remains responsive to the needs and desires of the people it serves. I’ll continue to advocate for empowering our citizens through such reforms to promote transparency, accountability, and common sense principles in Hawaii.

7. 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?

Regarding the Sunshine Law applying to the Legislature, I am open to discussing this idea. However, I approach it cautiously due to concerns I’ve heard from colleagues at the City Council, where strict application of the Sunshine Law can sometimes hinder their ability to effectively collaborate on issues. Balancing transparency with the need for productive legislative deliberations is crucial. I would like to hear more from residents in my community to gauge their views on this issue before making a final decision.

Additionally, we must address practical barriers that hinder public participation, such as improving parking accommodations for those who wish to come to the Capitol to testify. Ensuring accessible and convenient parking will encourage greater civic engagement and make it easier for residents to participate in the legislative process.

As for campaign contributions, I do support banning them while legislators are in session. This helps to prevent potential conflicts of interest and ensures that legislative decisions are made based on the merits of the issues, not influenced by financial contributions during critical decision-making periods.

I’m committed to exploring these ideas further and working toward enhancing transparency, accountability and public trust in our legislative process.

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?

To enhance transparency and accessibility, I strongly support opening conference committees to the public. This allows citizens to weigh in before final decisions are made on bills, ensuring their voices are heard in the legislative process. Members on conference committees should also be allowed to express their support or opposition openly before a vote is taken, similar to other committee hearings. Currently, only the chairs can speak, and I believe this should change to promote fairness and openness.

We should also improve access to legislative documents, hearings, agendas and other information. Clearer and more accessible information empowers the public to participate meaningfully in our legislative system.

Regarding lobbying, I so support disclosure requirements to promote transparency about who is influencing legislative decisions. However, I oppose measures that would deter public participation, such as requiring citizens to register as lobbyists for frequent testimony.

Yes, there are a lot of internal changes that could take place by changing the House and Senate rules. Unfortunately, with one-party dominance and control, change takes awhile. This is why a healthy two-party system is important to effective and accountable governance.

9. 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?

There’s no denying that Hawaii’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and the Covid-19 shutdowns from 2020 to 2022 underscored the vulnerability of this reliance. While diversification has been a longstanding topic among politicians, there’s been little progress.

I believe one promising avenue for economic diversification, particularly beneficial to West Oahu families, lies in developing the film industry. With the recent establishment of the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii West Oahu, we have a prime opportunity to partner with UH and facilitate the construction of film studios through public-private partnerships. This initiative would create a robust job pipeline for graduates of the Creative Media program.

Additionally, we need to bolster our state’s competitiveness by increasing film tax credits. States like Georgia have successfully attracted film productions and generated local jobs through smart incentives. Hawaii can similarly thrive if we reduce bureaucratic obstacles and excessive taxation that hinder the growth of these industries.

I am committed to advancing legislative measures that support economic diversification and job creation in Hawaii. By cultivating partnerships, enhancing incentives and streamlining regulations, we can establish economic diversification that allows all families of Hawaii to thrive.

10. 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?

The reason why over 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by is because government continues to grow in size, and spending seems to increase every year. As government gets richer, our local families get poorer. Immediate relief is needed, which is why I and my colleagues have introduced proposals like HB 623, aiming to remove the General Excise Tax on food, all medical services and hygiene products.

Furthermore, I have supported legislation to abolish the income tax. Other states have successfully done this, stimulating their economies and ultimately generating more revenue. We need similar bold steps in Hawaii to empower our local families. Additionally, initiatives such as HB 634 propose non-taxable pre-savings down payment accounts, enabling families to save effectively for home ownership.

Addressing Hawaii’s exorbitant housing costs is paramount. I’ve proposed creating a separate local housing market exclusively for local families, where properties are purchased at area median income (AMI) prices. This market would ensure that affordability is preserved indefinitely, requiring properties to be sold at the AMI they were purchased, thus safeguarding affordability for future generations. This initiative applies specifically to developments utilizing affordable housing tax credits.

I also strongly support a temporary ban on foreigners purchasing property in Hawaii.