Full name: Shay Chan Hodges

Name on ballot: Shay Chan Hodges

Age: 53

Political Party: Democrat

Running for: U.S. House

District: 2

Email Address: shayforhawaii@gmail.com

Current job: Author/writer

Place of birth: San Francisco, Calif.

Campaign website: www.shayforhawaii.com

Job history past 10 years:

2013-present: Author, “Lean On and Lead,” “Mothering and Work in the 21st Century Economy”

1994-present: Freelance technical and grant writer

2014: Hawaii child care community organizer

2010-12: Business manager, ROOTS Maui

2005-11: Owner, Maui Child Toys & Books in Makawao

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

Other civic experience or community service?

Maui County Water Board member, ROOTS School board member, Maui County Electric Vehicle Alliance member, Maui County Democratic Party, Precinct 13-2 chairwoman, Hawaii State Democratic Party Central Committee member, Maui County Committee on the Status of Women member, Haiku School SCBM member, coordinator of the Maalaea Community Garden, Administrative Assistant at Maui AIDS Foundation, Specialist at Community Work Day Program, Executive Assistant at American Foundation for AIDS Research.

What makes you qualified to be a U.S. representative?

I am a small business owner, a grant writer for social service agencies, an author and an advocate for working families. I have fought for policy changes at the county, state and federal level. I know what it takes to make change while also raising a family of my own.

Do you support the use of United States combat troops in Syria to defeat ISIS, or to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad?

No. In response to Syria’s civil war, we should provide humanitarian relief and economic assistance, promote the rule of law, and defend human rights. We need to negotiate a political settlement where Assad steps down. Keeping Assad in power supports Putin’s interests and undermines the American position.

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Iraq, or should those troops be withdrawn?

I agree with Congresswoman Barbara Lee who said, “[T]here is no military solution in Iraq. This is a sectarian war with long standing roots that were flamed when we invaded Iraq in 2003. Any lasting solution must be political and take into account respect for the entire Iraqi population.”

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, or should those troops be withdrawn?

I share the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ position: “Too many families have sacrificed for too long … The sooner we bring our troops home and shift away from our large-scale military occupation mission, the sooner we can help the Afghan government achieve stability and focus on critical challenges here at home.”

Should the United States recognize a Native Hawaiian government through an administrative rule or an act of Congress?

Neither an administrative rule nor an act of Congress (particularly under Republicans) would likely adequately address the injustice done to Hawaiians that was acknowledged by President Clinton and Congress in 1993. In order to move forward, the tension between self-determination and access to federal support needs to be addressed.

What changes should be made to the federal Affordable Care Act?

At a minimum, I would join with President Obama and Secretary Clinton in advocating for a “public option” to be added to the Affordable Care Act. Ideally, I would like to see a “single payer” health care system in the U.S., but a Republican controlled House makes this unlikely.

Should the federal government legalize marijuana?

The federal government should legalize marijuana.

>> The criminalization of marijuana has resulted in disproportionate incarcerations of thousands of America’s minorities, which is accompanied by the cost of keeping nonviolent offenders in prison.

>> There is convincing evidence that marijuana is not a gateway drug.

>> There are medicinal applications for marijuana.