Editor’s Note: In July 2012, Civil Beat sent six questions to each of the candidates registered to run in the Aug. 11 primary for Hawaii State House of Representatives District 47. All three responded, including Richard Fale. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read the responses by Danielle Beirne and Gil Riviere to see how Fale’s positions compare to those of his competitors. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Fale’s response.

• General Excise Tax
• Environmental Regulatory Review
• Gambling
• Sunshine Law
• Best and Worst Legislation
• Overlooked Issue

Preferred Candidate Name: Richard Fale

Senate/House District Number: House District 47

Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY): 03/27/1981

Place of Birth/Hometown: Born in Provo, Utah

Current Profession/Employer: US Army Reserves, Paralegal

Education/Alma Mater(s): BYU-Hawaii

1. With the exception for Honolulu rail, the state has not raised the general excise tax in decades. Would you consider increasing the GET to help the state meet its budget demands?

Until greater fiscal accountability, prioritization of spending could be adjusted, I would not support an increase in the GET. ↩ back to top

2. Lawmakers proposed relaxing environmental regulatory review to spur development and job growth in the 2012 session, and the issue is expected to resurface next year. Where do you stand?

I believe there is a need to reform and revise both the procurement and permitting processes not only for state projects but for private projects as well. ↩ back to top

3. Gambling — are you for it or against it? If not, why not? If so, what type of gambling and with what kind of restrictions?

I believe that legalizing gambling, on the whole, will adversely affect our State. ↩ back to top

4. The Sunshine Law is a hallmark of an open democracy accountable to its citizens. Yet, the Legislature exempts itself from this requirement. Do you support more transparency in government operations, or are there legitimate reasons to conduct some of the people’s business behind closed doors?

I fully support the established Sunshine Law and do not believe the Legislature should be exempt from these laws. By its very nature, the Legislature should be the most transparent and open body of government because they are elected directly by their constituents in order to serve those constituents to the best of their ability. ↩ back to top

5. What is the best legislation — and worst legislation — that the Legislature has approved in recent years? Please explain.

Discussion about taxing certain pensions, though it did not pass, was perhaps the worst legislation I’ve heard discussed in recent years. We should not turn the tables on those hard working individuals living on fixed incomes to make up for poor fiscal decisions made by our State government. Act 130 and 131, which were just signed into law this June, are examples of great legislation because they were created collaboratively to revise and improve our charter school system. ↩ back to top

6. What is an issue that you would champion at the Legislature — one that perhaps has not received much attention, or an issue that is important to your district?

The biggest struggle my community faces is dealing with the rising cost of living in Hawaii. As the Representative of my community, I would not support any taxes on our senior citizens, especially those on fixed incomes. I would also work to increase economic opportunities for our youth and working families. ↩ back to top