District 13 – Rod Tam (R)

Full Name: Rodney H.C.G. Tam

Name on Ballot: Rod Tam

Age: 62

Political Party: Republican

Running For: State Senate

District: 13

Email address: r.tam@hawaii.rr.com

Current job: Business consultant (business plans, marketing strategies, international relations, legal research

Place of Birth: Honolulu

Campaign website: rodtamforsenate.com

Job history past 10 years:

State representative 1982-1994, state senator 1994-2002, City Councilman 2003-2010, business consultant

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?: Yes, see above.

Other civic experience or community service:

United Chinese Society, president; Ket On Society, president; Tom Association, president; Kuhio Lions Club, president; Chinese Jaycees, community vice president; Alewa/Liliha/Puunui Community Association, founder, secretary/treasurer, Chinatown Business & Community Association, founder

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

Community public service advocate, democracy and civil rights advocate, person-to-person communicator, advocate for public hearings (Mr. Sunshine) and access to public records, budget analyst, financial planner and human resources specialist, human resources advocate for youth and senior citizens.

What makes you qualified to be a state senator?

Knowledge and experiences in state legislative and administrative structure and process to legislate laws and resolve constituent problems, public community service, leadership and knowledge experiences, 4 generations of family historical residency in the community, and love and devotion to the community and its residents.

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?

No, stabilizing and stimulating Hawaii’s economy and increasing number of local businesses will create more revenue for Hawaii’s services.

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?

Not at this time. City needs to establish a concrete financially accountable construction and operational plan now and for the future.

Should the state play a role in cracking down on illegal vacation rentals in Hawaii?

Illegal vacation rental is a city and counties jurisdiction of the building code.

Should the Legislature require that police officers in Hawaii use “body cameras,” and help to fund the use of those cameras?

Yes, evidence of police officers professional conduct and evidence against violators.

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?

No. Laws protect all government employees from disclosure of internal department discipline similar to private employment discipline unless criminal action in court of law.