Two former Democratic legislators hope to fill the 19th House District seat held by longtime Republican legislator Barbara Marumoto, who is not seeking re-election.
Bertrand "Bert" Kobayashi, 68, and Brian Yamane, 65, are the two Democrats in the Aug. 11 primary election for the district covering Kapahulu, Kaimuki and Diamond Head.
Each hopes to advance to the general election, where they will face newcomer Darrell Young, the only Republican candidate.
Kobayashi, a Kaimuki resident for 59 years and a former administrator for the state’s 12 community hospitals, served in the state House from 1978 to 1982 and in the Senate from 1982 to 1994, representing the same general area as the current 19th District.
Yamane, a Kaimuki resident for 27 years and father of state Rep. Ryan Yamane (D, Waipahu-Mililani), has been a business insurance agent for 35 years. He represented the 19th House District from 1994 to 2000. (Marumoto represented the adjoining 17th District, which was reconstituted as the 19th District in the 2002 reapportionment.)
Kobayashi points to his experience as a legislator, an administrator and a lobbyist for the American Lung Association and Pacific Gateway Center.
"I’ve been on all three sides of the triangle," he said, referring to his roles as a legislator, lobbyist and administrator.
"I have a better track record of producing good legislation over a longer period of time than my opponent, in part because I was chair of several important committees while he never served as a committee chair," Kobayashi said.
Kobayashi chaired the Senate transportation, health, education and legislative management committees.
Yamane cites his business experience as an insurance agent handling primarily commercial insurance as well as his years as a House member and as a staffer for House members Joseph Souki and Robert Herkes.
"I know a lot of House legislators," he said. "I’ve worked for them for years."
Yamane said Kobayashi is also a good candidate. "I just think I’ve had more experience in the House," he said.
"This is not an ‘anti’ campaign," Yamane said. "I’m putting myself out there and let the people choose."
Kobayashi describes himself as a moderate on fiscal issues and progressive on social issues. Yamane said he’s a Democrat, "but more a moderate," citing experience as an insurance agent.
Kobayashi’s top priorities for the district are health care, especially for the elderly; lower and higher education; and tax and budget issues, including the unfunded deficits for pensions and health insurance.
Yamane’s top priorities are better school facilities; protecting seniors from the erosion of their earned benefits; and responsible homeownership.
On other issues, Kobayashi said he favors same-sex marriages, while Yamane said he isn’t opposed to it, but wouldn’t vote for it.
On the city’s rail project, both said they favor it, although Kobayashi said he would like to see improvements and Yamane said he was concerned about the costs.
Both favor federal recognition of Native Hawaiians under the Akaka Bill.
Kobayashi said that as of last week, he has raised $18,000 to $19,000 for the campaign, including his own donation of about $11,000. He had about $3,000 left.
Yamane said he raised about $10,000 to $11,000, including about $6,000 he lent to the campaign. He had about $7,000 left.
Kobayashi has received endorsements from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers, he said. Yamane did not cite any endorsements.
The winner of the primary will face Young, 48, in the general election. Young is working full time on his first campaign for public office.
Young’s job history includes working as an aide to City Councilman Charles Djou in 2010 and as an intern for Marumoto last year.
