Full Name: Lawrence Friedman

Name on Ballot: Lawrence “Larry” Friedman

Age: 56

Email Address: Lawrencefriedmanformayor@gmail.com

Current Job: Retired

Place of birth: New York

Campaign website: www.facebook.com/Lawrence-Friedman-for-Mayor-of-Honolulu-1082607961796481/

Job history past 10 years:

2012 to 2015: Systems engineer, Hawaiian Telcom, Honolulu

2011 to 2012: Sales executive, Avaya, New York

2010 to 2011: Telecommunications technical specialist, Verizon Business, New York

2000 to 2010: Systems engineer/sales architect, Verizon Business Systems, Piscataway, NJ

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

Other civic experience or community service? No

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

I am passionate about serving the citizens of Honolulu and would keep the best interests of our community in mind when making policy decisions. I will make decisions by collaborating with representatives of the people I serve. Doing the right thing for my constituents is one of my core values.

What makes you qualified to be mayor?

I have extensive work experience who has taken on roles of increasing responsibility and am a successful consensus builder. I feel my extensive collaboration and problem solving skills gained from corporate experience provides me with the ability to successfully manage our city through the next four years and beyond.

What is your one big idea?

We need to complete the rail all the way to Ala Moana. If we do not complete the railway and stop at Middle Street, we will have a failed project that is not serving the needs it was intended to address. A solid financial plan is urgently for a success.

What steps should elected city officials take next regarding the rail project?

We need a financial plan for rail immediately. What I would do is meet with the City Council and HART board and address the challenges for the completion delay. HART performance should be carefully reviewed and actions taken to address shortcomings and failures.

Why has the city not been able to take more homeless off the street and what would you do to improve the situation?

In addition to temporary housing, I would provide training and education to the homeless to become viable members of society. The city has not been aggressive in enforcing the existing laws to prevent the homeless from setting up camp wherever they seem to choose.

What steps can elected officials take to ensure city employees behave ethically?

We can start by looking at the incumbent mayor, as an example. He stated that being mayor is a 24×7 job, yet hold a “part-time” job on the board of a local bank which pays a higher salary than he receives from the city. My time would be dedicated.

As an elected city official, what would you do to improve the city’s affordable housing supply?

We must strengthen the deed restrictions on units that are built as affordable housing to sustain inventory. If we don’t, then these properties can be sold at a significant profit and will diminish the stock we have on hand and send the unit count backward.