Candidates address development, taxes

Debates about homelessness, education, traffic and other key issues have never been confined to the urban core — but increasingly, they’re rising to the top of discussions among candidates in once-rural areas, from West Oahu to the North Shore. Development and economic growth no longer are abstract concepts to these regions.

In today’s last of three days of endorsements for contested state House races on Oahu, here are the Star-Advertiser’s recommendations for Districts 40-47:

>> District 40 (Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point): Republican Bob McDermott deserves to remain the incumbent here over Democratic opponent Rose Martinez, a part-time teacher and small business owner. We often disagree with McDermott’s social conservativism, but his ability to articulate on behalf of various issues adds needed diversity to the House. He gets credit for his advocacy for a new high school in this fast-growing district, which has seen serious overcrowding at its two existing high schools. McDermott, a Realtor, expresses the usual GOP points about streamlining the permitting process and cutting taxes and regulations, but also supports completing the rail system, which likely will require extending the general excise tax surcharge.

>> District 41 (Ewa Villages- Ocean Pointe-Ewa Beach): Incumbent Democrat Matt Lopresti is proud to point out that as Transportation Committee vice chairman, he played a key role in killing proposed increases to the state gas and vehicle weight taxes and vehicle registration fees. An associate professor at Hawaii Pacific University, Lopresti has been realistic about how the rail system should be funded, and takes the side of transparency in issues such as police body cams. Still, he faces a tough opponent in Republican Bryan Jeremiah, a project manager for the recently rebuilt International Market Place, who secured nearly 40 percent of the vote in a three-way race in 2014.

>> District 43 (Kalaeloa- Ko Olina-Maili): Republican incumbent Andria Tupola has done well for her district and deserves another term. First elected in 2014 and one of the House’s few Republicans, she has served on a half-dozen committees, gaining insight and experience on how to help her district more effectively. Tupola tends to oppose tax increases (or extensions), on the reasonable grounds that the cost of living in Hawaii is high enough, leading to increased homelessness that social programs can’t ameliorate if taxes keep going up. Her rival is Democrat Stacelynn Eli, a legislative aide who in the primary defeated Karen Awana, a former House majority floor leader.

>> District 44 (Waianae-Makaha-Makua): This race features no advantage to the incumbent, who until the primary was Democrat Jo Jordan. She was ousted by Cedric Gates, who has been active in community affairs, particularly on children and youth issues, so has built a constituency. A Green Party candidate for this seat in 2014, Gates has run a strong campaign and earned wide support for his enthusiasm for revitalizing the Waianae Coast communities. A former Waianae Neighborhood Board chairman and a teacher assistant at Makaha Elementary School, Gates is facing Republican Marc Paaluhi, a political neophyte carpenter and former construction superintendent.

>> District 46 (Wahiawa-Whitmore-Poamoho): Incumbent Democrat Marcus Oshiro, an attorney first elected in 1994, is one of Hawaii’s most veteran legislators, and knows well his community and the legislative process. The former House majority leader is realistic yet thoughtful about extending the rail tax surcharge, and interestingly, resists the Democratic groupthink view on the medical marijuana issue. He faces Republican Scott Noltie, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and “constitutional conservative” who opposes any new taxes, favors home rule by the counties on some key issues, and says the rail project was a mistake.

>> District 47 (Waialua- Kahuku-Waiahole): This is a race that underscores how deeply divided some districts can be. The incumbent is Republican Feki Pouha, a former Mormon missionary whose support is strongest with the Mormon community in Laie. Elected in 2014, he has secured funding for improvements to area schools and other local projects, and helped push the Turtle Bay conservation easement purchase. Pouha’s opponent is Democrat Sean Quinlan, a Haleiwa resident whose views in the Green Party or Bernie Sanders vein are popular among many who live in the district’s Haleiwa side. Quinlan discusses issues such as jobs, education, housing and traffic, but also includes jabs against “gentlemen’s farms,” “big corporations” and “special interests.” Either candidate could add fruitful discussions to the House, but experience gives Pouha the edge.