Name on ballot:

Sam Satoru Kong

Running for:

State House – District 33

Political party:

Democrat

Campaign website:

friendsforsamkong.com

Current occupation:

State Representative

Age:

60

Previous job history:

Sam’s Cab, Owner
Aiea Florist, Owner
SoftwarePlus, Asst. Service Manager
SERVCO, Asst. Service Manager
USAF, Honorable Discharge

Previous elected office, if any:

State House District 33

Please describe your qualifications to represent the people of Hawaii.

Businessman, Veteran, Author, Family Man, Volunteer. Being so much part of the Community, with such a diverse back ground, am able to address various problems that our community, and State, faces.

My 3 decades as a businessman, I understand what it takes to keep our economy running.

As a volunteer for over 2 decades within our School system, we were able to hit the ground running. According to Honolulu Magazine, we made Aiea Intermediate #1, and Aiea High School #8 in this State.
As a member of ‘Lions on the Move’, we are able to keep our District clean and graffiti free. Working each and every Saturday morning doing so! Come join us!

As a Veteran, understand and appreciate the role that the military plays in our Community and State.

As a family man and Author, the values that I hold on to, play critical roles for our future generations.

What will be your top priority if elected?

The high Cost of Living

As Hawaii faces the COVID-19 pandemic, what more can be done to protect residents’ health?

Actually working on that now. We are working to bring in a Breathalyzer testing system, which was approved by the Israeli FDA, now awaiting for US FDA approval. This system will enable us to test 32,000 in a day, giving 1-2 minutes results if one has, or has not, COVID 19. The work we are doing is to prepare our State to be able to start testing immediately without delay, upon approval.

Also would like more information released on treatments for this virus, in order to prevent deaths within our State.

What more can be done to help residents who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We already approved additional funds to perform as a Plus Up for the unemployed, @$200/week.

The one thing we Cannot do is to Raise Taxes on our citizens!

If we are able to accomplish getting the testing here, we would be able to safely open up our economy and allow businesses to operate and our citizens to work.

Should public worker furloughs, pay cuts or downsizing be used to help the state deal with lower tax revenues and higher expenses during the pandemic? Why or why not?

Not necessary. For one, we need to keep the monies flowing in all sectors to help in the economic recovery. Also, we are able to budget and prioritize ourselves to face any shortfall.

Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered greatly due to the pandemic. If elected, what would you propose to support and diversify the state’s economy?

As we speak, working on a large scale agricultural project within our State. Unfortunately, at this time, unable to release any details due to the sensitivity of the investors.

Always have been a supporter of getting Fiber Optic Cable Landings here in this State. Having the Bandwidth to handle today’s, and future needs, is one critical infrastructure we need.

Do you support reforms to policing in Hawaii? If yes, please explain what reforms you support.

Voted ‘No’ on HB285. We have the finest Men and Women in Blue representing this State. All misconduct is already investigated, not too mention, we are very short on the number of officers needed, and will be harder to recruit in the future.

Do you support or oppose the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island and why?

Support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

Is there anything more that you would like voters to know about you?

Working for our Community in the position as your Representative truly allows me to accomplish many tasks needed to address your concerns. May I continue to do so…