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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 Ben Shafer, Democratic candidate for state Senate District 23, which includes Kaneohe, Kahaluu through Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks and Kunia Camp. His opponent is Republican Brenton Awa.

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?

Climate change and its effects on our roads along Kamehameha Highway from Heeia to Haleiwa. The roads could be falling in the ocean in less than a year in a few areas.

We need to have a series of serious talks on acknowledging the problems and producing solutions now. 

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?

No, as incomes raises the taxes paid should offset the cuts.

However, I will closely monitor the finances of the state to ensure we do not get into a jam and our families are able to thrive.

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?

Term limits and government-sponsored campaign financing are the best ways to start.

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?

Voters are not happy with the status quo, nor are they happy that not enough is changing except the cost of living. I will always support good government by supporting transparency and accountability in all government actions. 

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

Yes, I believe comprehensive public financing should be the only way for all elections to create the backbone for good governance. 

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

Yes, I support the process.

In other states they have learned through trial and error what good governance looks like with a citizens initiative.

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?

Yes. The same should apply for federal legislators as well. Complacency, status quo and compromise are just three of the many issues that arise with no term limits.

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 support both the Sunshine Law and banning fundraising during sessions for obvious reasons. However, there are areas in the Sunshine Law that need updating. For instance, three or more members of the same board should be able to discuss anything except what is going on in their shared committee, council or board. 

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 the people deserve a more transparent and accessible Legislature. Opening up conference committees to have more discussions and decisions in front of the public instead of behind closed doors is one way.

I also think lobbyists should be identifiable when lobbying at the Legislature or the administration. The disclosure would help the public know who the lobbyists are and when they are lobbying legislators.

I would also like to see that the oath of office is taken at the start of every new session to remind legislators of their pledge to uphold the Constitution and laws of Hawaii as well as ethically and impartially discharging their duties. 

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?

The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and others should be hosting conferences using all the studies, reports and analysis of what Hawaii could look like if tourism took an alternate seat.

Those studies should offer the best solutions for a diversified Hawaii economy complementing the tourist dollar. 

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?

We can start by ensuring that our fuel prices are some of the lowest in the country. What we pay at the gas pump triggers what we pay for electricity and for everything else like food.

We can change the way the vehicles are registered: Instead of by weight, by year. The newer the vehicle the higher the registration. Many low-income families have older SUVs or trucks because they have big families and only one vehicle. That is all they could afford. They should not be penalized by the vehicle’s weight. For those who can afford the newer lighter gas saving or electric vehicle, that is great, too. Somewhere in there should be a balance.

There are some who have vehicles not registered because of mechanical problems. Eventually your vehicle is fixed, only to find out you are now two years behind or even longer on a valuable used car you can now drive and afford. There should be a grace period of five years in registration.

Senior citizens who own one home on a fixed income should pay a fixed income property tax rate. The assessment is not built on reality but on gouging property owners, eventually pricing everyone out of paradise.