Former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana is looking to return to politics with a bid for the state House seat representing Central Maui against incumbent Justin Woodson.
With no other candidates from other parties to face in the general election, the winner of the Democratic primary will secure the House District 9 seat, which covers Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills and Maui Lani.
Representing a district that’s home to many of the island’s working-class families means the typical campaign issues of job creation and affordable housing are especially top of mind for constituents.
Apana contends he has an edge, having been elected to public office as mayor of Maui County in 1999 and to three terms on the Maui County Council before that.
"I’ve been elected several times. He’s been appointed as an interim," Apana, 51, said of his opponent.
Apana maintains his county-level experience can translate well to a state-level position.
"Your job is to make sure your district is served. By serving my district, I belive I’m serving the state," he said. "The way the state is heading, I feel now is a good time and good opportunity to serve. I overcame many of the same problems as mayor."
For example, he said, he helped rein in the county’s spending and improve its financial standing during his mayoral term, which ended in 2002.
"We took the country from a single-A to a double-A bond rating for the first time," said Apana, a Realtor with Windermere Real Estate on Maui. "We did that by reorganizing the county, retooling the county to really focus on core functions as a priority … to better serve residents."
Earlier in his career he worked one session as a legislative budget analyst.
Woodson, 37, is facing primary voters for the first time. He was appointed to the state House in January 2013 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, following a string of vacancies set off by the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye the month before.
Gil Keith-Agaran, who had been serving since 2009 as the Central Maui district’s representative, was appointed to the state Senate to replace former Maui Sen. Shan Tsutsui, who was tapped to be lieutenant governor after Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill out the remainder of Inouye’s term.
With two legislative sessions under his belt, Woodson contends he’s better qualified for the job and has a track record of results.
For example, as a member of the powerful House Finance Committee, Woodson says he was able to secure funding for projects back home.
"This past session, I was able to work with other legislators in getting $405 million for Central Maui," he said, referring to capital improvement funding for schools, the airport and Maui Memorial Medical Center, the island’s only acute-care hospital. "That is important because, basically, it equates to jobs."
He also serves as vice chairman of the Housing Committee and sits on the Health and Human Services committees.
Woodson said if elected, he wants to continue working on ways to make housing more affordable, upgrade public school facilities and improve kupuna care.
"We need real affordable housing. We’re looking at creative ways, such as reducing homes in size to bring costs down," he said. "Now, as it relates to my community, many families live multigenerationally, and a lot of times it’s out of necessity because they can’t afford to buy or rent."
He said he visited the public schools in his district to ask principals about their funding needs and to get a firsthand look at learning environments.
"There’s a need for what we’re calling heat abatement, basically creating innovative ways to solve the heat issue," Woodson said. "The classrooms are simply too hot."
Both candidates tout their roots in the community as advantages.
"I went to school in the district. I’ve lived here most of my life," Apana said. "We have a long relationship."
He said residents have told him they want a representative who listens.
"I’m hearing that they have no one to talk to or take their concerns to," Apana said. "They feel that’s what’s lacking — they want a representative that will listen to their concerns. They know it’s my personal style. I go to their houses, businesses, garages. … They really miss this connection to government that they once had."
Woodson, whose family owns an auto detailing business, said he makes it a priority to engage with his community.
"I am in the community, my kids go to the public schools, I see the community at Walmart or at church or driving or walking on the road. I see them on a daily basis," Woodson said.
"I’ve worked very hard to listen to what the community wants. I went out and walked the community on most weekends. That’s how I learn the community’s concerns in real time," he added. "It has helped inform a lot of my votes and decisions."
