District 11 – Daniel Pekus (R)

Full Name: Daniel A. Pekus “Danny”

Name on Ballot: Daniel Pekus

Age: 58

Political Party: Republican

Running For: Hawaii House of Representatives

District: District 11 Kihei/Wailea/Makena

Email Address: danny@pekusforhouse.com

Current Job: Special education teacher at Baldwin High School

Place of birth: California

Campaign website: pekusforhouse.com

Job history past 10 years:

High school special education teacher:

Hawaii, five years

Vancouver and Evergreen school District in Washington, about 14 years

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome? No

Other civic experience or community service?

I volunteer for youth sports, baseball clinics, and a lot of other community needed experiences as they are placed in front of me. As my campaign says, “COMMUNITY AND FAMILY” and “Already helping your children.”

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

A business background owning and operating businesses from: management, marketing director, sales.

Vocational teaching certificate to teach business in high school.

Played college football/baseball.

Coached baseball: professionally, college, and high school.

Special education teacher: dealing with contracts, negotiating-communicating effectively to have “Win-Win” outcomes for all of the parties involved.

What makes you qualified to be a state representative?

I’ve worked in the public sector (government contracts with) management/negotiating contracts and can work most issues to benefit all. As with special education students/contracts. Working in the public arena also gives me a lot of experience dealing with government out of control needing a logical decision-maker.

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. We need to reduce government regulations and government costs. We are the highest in the U.S. for administration cost per mile at $90,000 per mile (Lowest state is $4,000 per mile). We need infrastructure but must be competitive with bids and friendly to bring contractors here.

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?

Again, no. We need to bring in competitive bids from all around the nation.

When I dealt with government projects we had to adhere to the contract specifications, the contract price (except for change orders), and time constraints. For some reason that is not happening? Return on investment — too high.

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

Yes, again IF the state would allocate the money to the original intended area that was receiving the Transient Accommodations Tax. TAT: maintenance and improvements to each specific area (State takes large amount of 9.25 percent). Originally administration fees were supposed to be 5 percent of the total, near half today. Why?

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

Yes. I believe that law enforcement is getting a raw deal from the media today and these cameras would protect the community as well as the police officers and prove to the community that most of the police are doing great jobs. There are 2 percent poor employees in every workplace.

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?

I’m getting involved in government because the lack of transparency and trustworthiness.

I believe that unions have made it too difficult to weed out the 2 percent poor/bad employees, inclusive of my teacher’s union. There are certain rules in all workplaces that should not be tolerated.