Six of seven candidates for three state House seats for Kaua‘i did not respond to surveys from the Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference on abortion, gambling, homelessness, affordable housing, minimum wage and healthcare. The candidates said they
Six of seven candidates for three state House seats for Kaua‘i did not respond to surveys from the Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference on abortion, gambling, homelessness, affordable housing, minimum wage and healthcare.
The candidates said they didn’t respond either because they didn’t get the survey or because they felt the questions didn’t address the needs of the districts they hope to win.
Vince Perry, a Kapa‘a resident who sent a letter to The Garden Island on the matter, said the responses would be an eye-opener for voters. The 10-question survey was sent to candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and Congress.
“I know many family loving and family supporting voters who would like answers to these important questions,” Perry wrote.
Only JoAnne Georgi, a Republican candidate for the 16th House District seat, responded to the survey. She said she would not support physician-assisted suicides, gambling and the replacement of law for homosexual couples.
Georgi said, however, she would support help for the homeless, use of state funds for rental units and a requirement parents be notified before a minor obtains an abortion.
Hermina Morita, a Democrat whose 14th District represents the North Shore and some of the Eastside, said the questions were too narrowly focused for most voters.
“I respond to surveys that really address broad topics that are of interest to the community,” he said. “I choose to answer those surveys that are broadly circulated.”
Running unopposed in today’s primary election, Morita needs one vote to return to the Legislature for another two years.
Georgi is unopposed in today’s Republican primary and will contest either Roland Sagum or Rhoda Libre in the Nov. 7 general election.
Sagum said he didn’t respond to the questionnaire because he felt it consists of “narrowly described questions that do not address broader community interests.”
Sagum said, however, he supports the state health system and medical insurance for Hawai‘i families.
Libre said she doesn’t recall receiving a survey. “But if I get a copy, I would respond to it,” she said.
Georgi, Sagum and Libre hope to succeed Bertha Kawakami, the incumbent Democrat who held the 16th District seat for nearly 20 years.
James Tokioka, Democratic candidate for the District 15 representing Lihu‘e to Koloa, said he has received “tons of surveys” since his election campaign began and can’t recall if he got the HCC and HFF survey.
“My first focus is to my supporters and the district,” he said. “But I apologize if I offended anyone by not responding to the survey.”
Linda Estes of Koloa, a Democrat squaring off against Tokioka today, was not immediately available for comment.
Ron Agor, an unopposed Republican candidate who will face either Tokioka or Estes in the general election, said he also doesn’t remember getting a survey.
“We get tons of them,” Agor said of the surveys sent to him this election year. “But I would have no problems answering the survey if the questions are put before me.”
Tokioka, Agor and Estes are vying for a seat Democrat Ezra Kanoho has occupied for 20 years.
