Name on ballot:

Tamara McKay

Running for:

State Senate – District 7

Political party:

Republican

Campaign website:

www.votetamaramckay.com

Current occupation:

Self employed

Age:

56

Previous job history:

Army Veteran, Corporate America, self employed

Previous elected office, if any:

Maui County Republican Party Chair

Please describe your qualifications to represent the people of Hawaii.

Maui County Republican Party Chair, Co founder and Vice chair Aloha maui Republican Women group, Grassroots coordinator of Convention of States, Chair of non profit events, a citizen that believes in the constitution and being a fighter and voice for the people

What is the most pressing issue facing residents in your district and how would you address the problem?

Water meters, affordable housing. Restructure the system. Affordable housing would also include restructure of the system and imposing legislation to limit foreign purchases of land and property in the State of Hawaii, create tiny home communities and give incentives to large land owners and ranches to assist in the projects and use of non core land.

Rising inflation has significantly worsened Hawaii’s already high cost of living. What can be done at the state level to help Hawaii residents cope with high consumer prices?

Support local businesses, create a made in Hawaii distribution center, amend the Jones act or eliminate the Jones act. There is so much more that can be done, but this is a beginning.

Hawaii’s rising gasoline prices are among the highest in the nation. Should Hawaii lower or temporarily suspend state taxes on gasoline to help ease the pain at the pump?

Suspend

Do you support or oppose efforts to slow or limit the number of tourists to Hawaii? Please explain.

I believe that we need to exploit other avenues to grow the economy and veer away from total dependency on tourism. Hawaii has and can be a great exporter of foods and made in Hawaii products.

Can Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy be diversified, and, if so, what can state government do to support the effort?


Focus on the people and less on foreign investments. Minimize and alter laws that allow for absentee ownership. Invest in the people rather than building structures to cater to tourism. An example is the current approval in the budget for a Hawaiian Cultural center. We should be focusing on home the veterans, building alternative housing for families, make permitting process more user friendly to current land owners to build as they see fit on their properties, look at water alternatives and disperse water meters to current land owners before new development.

What is your plan to increase affordable housing in Hawaii, and to help the counties deal with homelessness?

I touched on it in my previous answers. There are successful models for tiny home and alternative living communities that would assist in this issue. Appropriate spending would significantly help. Mental health and a veterans homes would be a good start.

What would you propose to help protect Hawaii residents’ health during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic?

Quit lying to the people about Covid. Educate preventative care and alternative medicine.

Hawaii isn’t likely to see a repeat of this year’s $2 billion revenue surplus which allowed higher-than-normal spending on state programs and projects. If elected, what will your top spending priorities be?

Audit the budget, spend appropriately, spend on Kupuna care, teacher salaries, Police budget increase, look at bogus non profits. If the spending isn’t enriching the lives of the citizens, then it isn’t a necessary expense.

What, if anything, should state government do in response to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs Wade?

It is up to the State and the voices of the people

What should state government do to support and improve public education in Hawaii?

School boards should be elected, parents have the final say in the children education, offer more education on agriculture and sustainability, have life courses, remove sexual content from the schools and focus on the basics of education.

What reforms, if any, would you propose to make local government more transparent to the public?

Public service announcements of town halls, bi weekly discussions on proposed bills and legislation, monthly town halls and/or, open discussions on state matters. Actually listening to the people and being a servant to the people.

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

I would like to have a round table with those from each side of this issue to hear the pros and cons.

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

I am a veteran, I served this country and willing to serve again. I am tired of the corruption and the disrespect to the constitution and the people. We have allowed the same people in office who have put our State and Country in a vulnerable situation. America was once a leader and admired, we need to be that light again. I am asking you to join me in being the solution to the problem, before the problem becomes the solution.