GOP newbies look good for House

Development is a key concern for residents in suburban and rural Oahu — how to cope with it, in areas like Ewa that are growing like gangbusters, and how to keep it in balance, especially in agricultural zones and along the Windward Coast.

This election cycle, residents in these areas will have opportunities to change the roster of the state Capitol, with reapportionment shifting district lines and leaving select seats up for grabs.

The Star-Advertiser favors a less lopsided partisan power structure than what’s now in place, and Republicans are our preference for some of these seats.

Here are our picks for contested state House races in Districts 40-51 (other legislative races were covered earlier this week):

» District 40 (Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point): Republican Bob McDermott, who represented Foster Village and Halawa 14 years ago in the state House, moved to Ewa several years ago and is the better choice for this newly drawn district, over Chris Manabat. McDermott, executive director of the Navy League, is focusing on school repairs, road conditions and the timely reopening of Hawaii Medical Center-West, now being acquired by The Queen’s Medical Center.

» District 41 (Ewa Beach, West Loch Estates): Rida Cabanilla-Arakawa, whose district has been reconfigured, has underperformed for her district and is confronting a GOP opponent, Adam Reeder, who deserves this chance to represent his community. The former legislative analyst for the House Minority Research Office works as a homelessness prevention specialist at the Institute for Human Services, a vantage point that could be useful in social-service discussions at the Capitol.

» District 42 (Kapolei, Makakilo): Sharon Har, the Democratic incumbent, should be re-elected over Marissa Capelouto. An advocate for the ignition interlock device that prevents drunken driving, Har also sponsored or co-sponsored a long list of worthy measures, most recently pressing for increased emergency services for Leeward Oahu. She will have a fight on her hands, but she resolutely defends the Public Land Development Corp. as good management of Hawaii properties.

» District 43 (Kalaeloa, Ko Olina, Maili): Incumbent Democrat Karen Awana, who five years ago switched from the GOP, probably has the base to win re-election, but we are concerned about her recent trouble with the Campaign Spending Commission. That agency has fined her $6,800 for violations in reporting spending dating back to 2008, on top of the $1,900 fine she paid last year. This is a distressing sign and could distract her from service to her district. Our endorsement goes to GOP candidate Glenn Butler, a real estate agent who has a record of community outreach through his church, in the hopes he can broaden perspectives in the House.

» District 44 (Waianae, Makaha, Makua): Democrat Jo Jordan, who was appointed to her first term to fill a vacancy in January 2011, has earned election in her own right, over challenger Creighton Higa. Jordan maintains her connection with constituents through her community-access TV show, "Jordan’s Journal," and has a resume of service on the neighborhood board and other community groups.

» District 45 (Mililani, Schofield, Kunia): Former Miss Hawaii Lauren Cheape, 24, has deep roots in the district and could advocate for agriculture because of her family’s farming history in Wahiawa. With more experience she should find a role to play in local politics. However, Democrat Jake Bradshaw, a Navy veteran and partner in a small communications business, brings broader life experience to the job. He also has community roots, and we hope his work in community outreach while in the Navy can serve his constituents here.

» District 46 (Wahiawa, Whitmore, Poamoho): These communities would be best served by returning Marcus Oshiro, chairman of the powerful House Finance Committee, to the job. Among the local concerns, he pledges to work for increasing access to primary health care and favors a balanced approach on streamlining regulation for construction projects without "senseless abandonment of cultural and environmental laws." He faces Christopher Murphy, a state airports office manager.

» District 47 {Waialua, Kahuku, Waiahole): Richard Fale was the surprise victor in the GOP primary, unseating incumbent Gil Riviere, and gets our nod here over Democrat D. Ululani Beirne. Fale is unapologetic about his support for "Envision Laie," the Mormon church development plan, and his campaign backing from the project sponsors. But the Tongan-born military veteran maintains that he realizes the need to balance job creation with environmental concerns, a promise to which his constituents surely will hold him.

» District 51 (Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo): Chris Lee, the incumbent Democrat, is the best choice in this race, over Republican Henry Vincent. Among Lee’s accomplishments: Kailua and Lanikai school improvements and the new library at Windward Community College. He voted against the PLDC to begin with and believes the best course is to repeal it and reconsider how to reshape such an agency with greater public input.