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 40. Three out of seven candidates responded, including Rose Martinez. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read responses by her competitors, Joe Rattner and Bob McDermott. Kurt Fevella, Christopher Manabat, Romy Mindo, and Sam Puletasi did not send in their questionnaires. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Martinez’s response.

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

Preferred Candidate Name: Rose Martinez

Senate/House District Number: House District 40

Date of Birth: 06/22/1958

Place of Birth/Hometown: Urdaneta City, Philippines

Current Profession/Employer: medical technologist/public health advocate

Education/Alma Mater(s): BS Medical Technology Far Eastern University; MS Public Health University of Hawaii-Manoa

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?

I am committed to a sensible approach to funding our government. As a legislator, I will work to find and eradicate duplicative services and explore new technologies to make government efficient and cost effective. Before raising the GET we must exhaust all other options and avenues. We cannot afford to add additional financial burdens to our seniors and our working class. ↩ 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?

Ewa is the fastest growing community in the state of Hawaii. As its representative, I will have the tough job of finding balance between continued development and our precious land and natural resources. As a legislator, I believe that high standards of regulatory reviews are important to not just the environment but to the residents of the community as well. We cannot bypass ANY regulatory process without first ensuring that the rights and health of the citizens that such developments would affect are benign. ↩ 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 am opposed to gambling. I am confident that there are many other economic opportunities for the State to pursue to raise revenues besides the legalization of gambling. While the immediate financial lure of economic activity is enticing, the long term social and cultural effects will be devastating and irreversible. ↩ 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?

As a former staffer at the legislature, I know how important it is to provide the people of Hawaii with an open and transparent government. As a legislator, I will support good government efforts that increase reasonable transparency to the public and conduct all official people’s business in the open. ↩ back to top

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

I have been most concerned with recent legislation that targets our working class and our seniors. I am strongly opposed to taxing pensions and other fixed incomes- we must not solve our budgetary problems on the backs of our seniors.

As for one of the best legislation, several years ago the legislature approved funding for a pilot program for Housing First, which supports transitioning homeless with mental health and drug dependency issues to stable living environments and eventually back into the workforce.

As we look forward towards the future, the state must address immediate and long-term housing needs. If elected, I will work closely with the House/Senate Urban Caucus and the Housing Chairs to ensure that we continue to move sensible housing legislation forward. ↩ 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?

One of the issues that I would like to work on as a state legislator is improving access to healthcare and infrastructure improvements. The closing of the St. Francis hospital has created a void of service for the members of my community. With the loss of emergency services our residents are placed in danger and must travel and be taken to either Waianae Comprehensive Center or Pali Momi Center in Aiea.

Infrastructure and development issues are very high on the priority list of Ewa residents. Hand in hand with infrastructure and healthcare access would be to ensure that we are implementing smart development practices and not increasing the infrastructure burdens on our current residents. As the secondary urban core continues to develop we must learn from the previous mistakes and ensure that we are moving forward with our eyes trained on the best interest of the future. ↩ back to top