Changes afoot in state House

This general election, Oahu will see 28 contested races for the 51-seat state House. Few upsets are expected in the Democratic-controlled chamber, but with a handful of districts without incumbents and a couple of legislators making questionable headlines, some churn is on the horizon. Here are the Star-Advertiser’s endorsements for contested seats in House Districts 17 to 24, roughly southeast Oahu (other districts will be covered throughout this week):

»17th District (Kalama Valley-Queen’s Gate-Hawaii Kai): Republican Gene Ward deserves to keep the seat he has held since 2006, bringing a moderate GOP perspective to a Democrat-dominated chamber. Ward, 70, is vice chairman of the Economic Development and Business Committee and also sits on the Agriculture, Finance and Tourism committees. Ward is plugged into the diverse concerns of his district and has been an effective advocate for the preservation of the Ka Iwi Coast and other open spaces and agricultural land in East Oahu. He is a major proponent of renewable energy who envisions the advancement of micro-grids and battery storage units that eventually transform Hawaiian Electric Co. from Oahu’s major provider to a backup source. He faces Democrat Chris Stump, 29, a consultant and former fisheries observer.

»18th District (Hahaione Valley-Aina Haina-Kahala): Democrat Mark Jun Hashem merits re-election to the seat he has held since 2010. The small-business owner and father of three knows well the myriad economic challenges facing Hawaii residents and has made housing a prime focus. As Housing chairman, he supported successful bids to increase access to affordable housing, including by increasing funding for the Rental Housing Trust Fund. Hashem, 46, also sits on the Finance, Health and Human Services committees. Republican challenger Susan Kehaulani Halvorsen, 36, a social worker at the state Department of Health, has experience as a shop steward for the Hawaii Government Employees Association and advocates improved safety at the Hawaii State Hospital.

» 19th District (Diamond Head-Kaimuki-Kapahulu): Our choice here is Democrat Bertrand Kobayashi, a longtime Kaimuki resident and legislative veteran who helped enact Hawaii’s "living will" law, the Nursing Homes Without Walls program and the HIV confidentiality law, and was an early supporter of building Kapiolani Community College. He has been a state deputy health director and helped set up the state public hospitals system, which he acknowledges isn’t working out so well — but with his background and as a Health Committee member, could help with needed improvements to reduce the hospitals’ burden on taxpayers while maintaining safety-net services. Kobayashi is popular in his district but faces opposition from Republican Victoria Elizabeth Mathieu, a teacher and neighborhood board member, and Libertarian Anthony Higa, a nursing graduate who holds future promise for his party.

» 20th District (Palolo-St. Louis Heights-Kaimuki): This district has been a lock for Democratic incumbent Calvin Say for years, and deservedly so. He has been attentive to the needs of the area and of the state, especially in times when fiscal prudence has been called for. The former House speaker is facing a residency challenge from supporters of one of his two worthy opponents, Green Party member (and former Hawaii County Council Chairwoman) Keiko Bonk, but that likely won’t be resolved until after the election. Bonk’s positions are mostly aligned with standard Democratic orthodoxy; meanwhile, Republican Julia Allen, a legislative aide, is active in the community and would be a good addition to House deliberations — if voters can see fit to unseat the popular Say.

» 21st District (McCully-Moiliili-Kapahulu): The good news here is that Democrat incumbent Scott Nishimoto has an opponent; he ran unopposed in 2012. Still, we see little reason Nishimoto, a former Washington, D.C., staffer to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, should be replaced by the Republican challenger, Larie Kuulei Langi Manutai, a salesperson at the Polynesian Cultural Center, attorney and newcomer to politics. Nishimoto has served in the Legislature since 2002, and is Finance Committee vice chairman and Legislative Management chairman. Nishimoto, an attorney, is part of the coalition formed with the Republicans to elect Rep. Joe Souki as House speaker, which has helped bring GOP voices into legislative discussions.

» 22nd District (Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako): Though engaged in his community, Democratic incumbent Tom Brower lost considerable credibility and respect when he took a sledgehammer to the shopping carts of homeless people last November. Particularly vexed though this district is by homelessness, that is not the type of action or temperament the public deserves from a lawmaker. Voters here have a solid alternative in Republican challenger Janet M. Grace, a health and home care professional who has volunteered at homeless shelters and works with disadvantaged kids — and seems to have a pragmatic grasp on issues to press for initiatives.

» 24th District (Moiliili-Makiki-Tantalus): Democrat incumbent Della Au Belatti deserves re-election, having established herself among the House’s most diligent, intellectual members. A lawyer and Health Committee chairwoman, Au Belatti has championed civil and women’s rights since first being elected in 2006; she co-chairs the Women’s Legislative Caucus, which advocates legislation on behalf of women. Her Republican challenger is C. Kaui Amsterdam.

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WEDNESDAY: State House Districts 25-33