Full name: Gregg Takayama

Name on ballot: Gregg Takayama

Age: 63

Political party: Democrat

Running for: House

District: 34

Email address: greggtakayama@hawaii.rr.com

Current job: Legislator

Place of birth: Honolulu

Campaign website: GreggTakayama.com

Job history past 10 years:

State House member for four years;

UH-Manoa director of communications and legislative affairs, 2007-2012;

Director of public affairs, UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2005-2007.

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

Elected to the state House in 2012 and re-elected in 2014.

Other civic experience or community service?

Member of the Pearl City Lions Club,

Board of directors, Friends of Pearl City Library.

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

I serve as House leader of the Kupuna Caucus, comprised of legislators and groups interested in senior issues.

I also chair the House Public Safety Committee, which has focused on modernizing correctional facilities and expanding job training for inmates to improve rehabilitation.

What makes you qualified to be a state representative?

I’ve served my community by getting on my knees to plant grass for a new playground while also fighting for more than $30 million for improvements to Pearl City schools in the past four years. Our district needs someone willing to invest “sweat equity” and be an effective advocate.

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?

We need to replenish our state Highway Fund to pay for road improvements. But the proposed fee increases should be gradually phased in rather than hit motorists all at once. We also need to ensure that electric/hybrid vehicles pay a fair share, which they don’t do now.

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?

The city must complete the rail system. Extending the excise tax surcharge should be a last resort – and only if accompanied by a commitment by the city to aggressively seek financing from the private sector and an increased share by the federal government, recognizing Honolulu’s high construction costs.

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

The state should expedite implementation of 2015’s Act 204, which requires vacation rentals to include their tax number in advertisements. This will make it easier for counties to enforce ordinances and for the state to collect the accommodations tax.

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

As chair of the House Public Safety Committee, I support measures that fund body cameras and also set standards for their use. Studies show police body cameras increase safety by promoting better behavior by both citizens and police. The Honolulu Police Department should take a greater leadership role in this.

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?

The names of police officers who are fired or forced to resign for criminal or disciplinary reasons should be subject to public disclosure.