Westward House incumbents on top of urban issues

While most attentive to the city’s rail project, western Oahu voters will need to weigh the effectiveness of their House representatives in dealing with a broad range of state issues. These include crime, the economy, taxes, environmental protection, education, housing and transportation issues other than rail.

We take a look today at seven state House races, all of which involve incumbent members facing such challenges as well as a few familiar opponents (eight House races were covered Wednesday; the remainder will be Friday). Some are in settled areas near urban Honolulu while others are in the most rapid developing areas of Oahu, including the plain near the expanding second city of Kapolei.

These are our recommendations:

» District 28 (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley): Democratic Rep. John Mizuno, 47, was elected to the House in 2007, is majority whip and Human Services chairman. A staunch advocate for increased security, medical and substance abuse treatment for the homeless, he deserves re-election over Republican Carole Kaapu, 50, owner of a faith-based media services company who serves on the neighborhood board.

» District 31 (Fort Shafter, Moanalua Gardens, Aliamanu): A promising Republican in the House is Minority Leader Aaron Johanson, 32, who was elected two years ago to the seat vacated by Republican Lynn Finnegan, who ran for lieutenant governor. A former analyst for Finnegan, his experience includes being deputy chief staff to then-Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, deputy chief of the U.S. Mint and a personnel director in the George W. Bush White House. Johanson is GOP minority whip and receives our endorsement over Democrat Lei Sharsh, 52, a behavior health specialist with the state Department of Education who was defeated by Johanson in 2010.

» District 32 (Salt Lake, Moanalua Valley): Another promising House member who was elected two years ago is Democrat Linda Ichiyama, 26, an international politics graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she interned for then-U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie. Ichiyama earned her law degree at the University of Hawaii during her first term in the House, where she was vice chairwoman of the Transportation Committee. We endorse her as she again faces Republican Garner Shimizu, 53, a sheet metal subcontractor.

» District 33 (Halawa, Aiea, Newtown): Democratic Rep. K. Mark Takai has served in the House since 1995 and, in a redrawn district, in the primary defeated Heather Giugni, who had been appointed by the governor in February. A former University of Hawaii-Manoa student body president, Takai, 45, has been critical of the UH administration following the Stevie Wonder fiasco. He is a first lieutenant in the Hawaii Air National Guard and chairman of the National Network of Legislators in the Military. A dissident of House Speaker Calvin Say, Takai went without a chairmanship in last year’s session, but his breadth of experience gives him an edge over Sam Kong, 52, an Aiea florist.

» District 36 (Mililani, Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): Longtime Democratic Rep. Marilyn Lee, 72, faces a strong challenge by Republican Beth Fukumoto, 29, who last year served as interim chairwoman of Hawaii’s GOP. A University of Hawaii graduate who also earned a master’s degree in English at Georgetown University, the fiscally and socially conservative Fukumoto could bring some fresh perspectives and energy to the Legislature. But Lee, a registered nurse, has deep community roots, has represented her district effectively since 1997, and has been active on health and women’s issues — so gets our nod here.

» District 37 (Mililani, Waipio, Waikele): Rep. Ryan I. Yamane, 42, a state social worker and chairman of the House Health Committee, has represented the area since 2005. He is immersed in his community’s activities and recently served on a planning policy committee that addressed Oahu’s transportation issues. He has our endorsement against Republican Emil Svrcina, 50, a computer specialist and programmer.

» District 39 (Waipahu, Royal Kunia, Makakilo): Democratic Rep. Ty Cullen won his House seat two years ago after it became vacant, and again faces Republican Carl Wong Sr., a retired police officer. Cullen, 31, is also director of the Village Park Community Association and program coordinator of Hale Kipa Inc., a nonprofit that aids high-risk youths. The biggest need for the area is rail transit, and Cullen has given his support. He has our endorsement against Wong.