From long-established Pearl City, to bustling Mililani and Waipio in Central Oahu, to burgeoning Kapolei in Ewa, these are the domains of Oahu’s quintessential middle-class communities. But with suburban life come the knotty issues of traffic congestion, growth, education, and affordable and elderly housing — and the need for government representatives responsive to these concerns. Here are the Star-Advertiser endorsements for contested races in House Districts 34-42 (other districts are/were profiled this week):

» 34th District (Pearl City-Waimalu-Pacific Palisades): Democrat Gregg Takayama, elected in 2012, deserves a second term. The House chairman of the Kupuna Caucus pays close attention to senior citizens, reflecting the needs of his area and the broader state concerns amid the "silver wave." He advocates for programs that treat seniors as a resource rather than a burden, such as Project DANA, a volunteer caregiving network, and helped channel more state funds to help seniors "age in place." The former public-relations specialist is Transportation vice chairman and sits on the Finance, Labor and Public Employment and Public Safety committees. His energetic Republican challenger is Jaci Agustin, a former YMCA employee who counts ending homelessness among her top concerns.

» 35th District (Pearl City-Waipio-Pearl Harbor): Democrat Roy M. Takumi, a communications specialist for the Hawaii AFL-CIO first elected in 1992, gets our nod as one of the chamber’s most knowledgeable and committed lawmakers, especially on education. Takumi, Education chairman, is a strong advocate for expanding access to early childhood education in Hawaii, rightly noting that investments in learning pay off not only for students and their families, but our society as a whole. He also serves as vice chairman of the Education Commission of the States, a nationwide, nonpartisan group that advances research-based educational improvements. Republican challenger LuAnn M. Poti, a credit union worker, is a first-time candidate who sees micro-apartments as a potential housing solution.

» 36th District (Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): In this district, the baton has been passed to, and now should remain with, Republican Beth Fukumoto Chang, who was elected in 2012 over Democrat Marilyn B. Lee, who had served in the House 16 years before redistricting pitted her against Fukumoto Chang. The incumbent’s views about taxes and spending are welcome in the current stormy financial times: she opposes a pension tax and increasing the GET, and supported an earned income tax credit for Hawaii’s lowest-income families. She also is focused on reducing the state’s unfunded liabilities, the plethora of special funds, the lack of transparency in the budgeting system, and modernizing Hawaiian Electric’s grid to help speed up PV approvals. A moderate, Fukumoto Chang serves as minority floor leader.

» 37th District (Mililani-Waipio-Waikele): Democrat Ryan I. Yamane, first elected to the House in 2005, seems to be doing well for his constituents. A trained social worker who’s received numerous awards from health-related organizations for his legislative work, Yamane as Health chairman helped reinstate Hawaii’s organ transplant program, which had closed with Hawaii Medical Center’s bankruptcy. In his current posts as majority whip and Transportation chairman, Yamane is well-positioned to address the high-interest issue of traffic for his district’s bedroom communities. In a rematch of 2012, he faces Republican Emil Svrcina, a computer programmer.

» 40th District (Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point): Engagement has not been incumbent Republican Bob McDermott’s problem — if anything, it’s his zeal that might cause pause, as was shown in his forceful oppositions to marriage equality and to the schools’ controversial sex-education program, Pono Choices. While we don’t agree with his unrelenting views, his voice is passionate and he was correct in pushing for Pono Choices fixes to ensure more medically accurate and age-appropriate content. A religious conservative and Gulf War veteran, McDermott has been particularly active in military affairs; that is, in fact, one of four committees on which he sits. Still, McDermott barely beat his rival in 2012, and now faces a challenge by Democrat Rose Martinez, an entrepreneur and a former legislative aide.

» 41st District (Ewa Beach-West Loch Estates): The primary election ouster of Democratic incumbent Rida Cabanilla boosts the prospects of political newcomer, Democrat Matthew LoPresti. The Hawaii Pacific University professor seems to have a solid grasp of concerns affecting his growing working-class districts, such as quality education, traffic, affordable housing and elderly care. Former City Councilman Tom Berg is running as a Libertarian, but his erratic behavior while serving on that body is difficult to overcome; the Republican candidate is Bryan Jeremiah, who has worked in construction and in ministry.

» 42nd District (Kapolei, Makakilo): Democratic incumbent Sharon Har, the representative here for eight years, offers a solid record of advocacy for her district, particularly "smart growth" infrastructure improvements and private job creation. Har, an attorney, also has been vocal in public education issues: She challenged the Department of Education’s plans to cut school bus routes in her district, and opposed a plan to exempt charter schools from the state Ethics Code. While we disagree with her vote against marriage equality, her experience and commitment make her the choice to represent her constituents. Her Republican challenger, Suk Moses, supports decentralizing the DOE through local school boards, and does not support any form of abortion.

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FRIDAY: House Districts 47-51.