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Full Name: Bryan Jeremiah
Name on Ballot: Bryan Jeremiah
Age: 53
Political Party: Republican
Running For: House
District: 41
Email Address: friendsforbryanjeremiah@gmail.com
Current Job: Project manager, PEI Construction
Place of birth: Big Island
Campaign website: voteforbryanjeremiah.org
Job history past 10 years:
Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?
In 2014, I ran as the Republican in a three-person race against Matt LoPresti and Tom Berg for the seat. While LoPresti won the race, and despite being a first-time candidate at the time, I was able to secure 37 percent of the vote.
Other civic experience or community service?
Member of Ewa Beach Lions Club. Former member, Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board.
Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?
I am a local guy with local values. Growing up on the Big Island, I learned that the family is most important. How we raise our children will shape Hawaii for future generations to come.
If elected, you can count on me to vote for what is right.
What makes you qualified to be a state senator or representative?
I am a working-class guy with working-class values raising a family in Ewa. I’ve never been afraid to do an honest day’s work. I understand that getting things done requires a willingness to work with others. I don’t think my opponent can say the same.
Gov. Ige says he will once again propose increases to the state gas tax, vehicle weight tax and state registration fees to help pay for state road projects. Do you support his proposal?
The constituents of my district can’t take another increase. While I understand the need to fix potholes and keep our highways working, it doesn’t make sense to continually place that burden on working people and families. We still need to get to work every day.
If the Legislature is again asked to extend Oahu’s half-percent excise tax surcharge to finance construction or operation of the rail system, would you support such an extension?
I think that we must get a better picture of how much will be needed and whether there are alternative ways to fund it. Extending the GET surcharge places a larger burden on working people and families. We are struggling as it is.
Should the state play a role in cracking down on illegal vacation rentals in Hawaii?
There may be some vacation rentals near Ewa Beach, but I think this is an issue more for the city and counties. Illegal activities are illegal and they should be stopped. It limits the city and counties’ revenue streams, affecting what government can do in more pressing areas.
Should the Legislature require that police officers in Hawaii use “body cameras,” and help to fund the use of those cameras?
I stand by the brothers and sisters in blue. Give them the resources to hire the number of officers they need. Give them the equipment they need. Give them the support they need.
Body cameras raise many First Amendment concerns as well as impact labor-management relations.
Dozens of police officers in Hawaii are disciplined each year for committing crimes or violating departmental policies, but little information is released about the officers or their cases. Do you think there needs to be greater public disclosure?
My concern is more on why these crimes and violations are occurring. Is it because police officers are overworked with less training and less supervision? We need to focus on stopping abuses from occurring instead of merely demanding to find out about it when they occur.
Didn’t the Republican Party ask this guy NOT to run as a Republican because of his long criminal record including 5 felony and several other criminal convictions, not to mention several prison sentences? This isn’t just some youthful one-time mistake, it looks more like a career of criminality. Multiple convictions for things like armed robbery, drug dealing, domestic violence, contempt of court and more over something like 20 years! (Go ahead and Google it.) The people of Hawaii deserve better candidates than this.
The people of Hawaii deserve better….like a Representative who has a DUI but fails to disclose that. Like a Representative who is using his political position to sue Haeseko. Like a Representative that has lied to the community that he would fight for them to get a new building at JCHS then remains silent as monies are sent to Maui for an unneeded high school. Like a Representative that lies on a TRO. Like a Representative that says he’s a Professor of Ethics that only voted NO on nine pieces of legislation of over 400 approved in 2015/2016 sessions. The only time anyone sees Lopresti in the community is at the Neighborhood Board…when was the first or last time he held his own Townhall to find out what the community needs are….[crickets].
The Representative held the first ever Lawmakers Listen event this year at Ewa Makai Middle School where dozens of people came as well as the leadership of the House of Representatives, including the budget chair and the Speaker of the House and a few others too. For those legislative leaders who came because of his event it was their first time to visit Ewa Beach as elected officials and it really made a difference. They listened to the community needs and acted. Air Conditioning for all the Ewa Schools and millions more for new buildings in the schools as well. People have talked about these things being needed out in Ewa for decades and this Representative LoPresti delivered in his first term in office. Heck the Governor himself was just at James Campbell High School last week with his cabinet and Hawaii National Guardsman helping to install heat abatement.