A distinguished airline pilot and retired Navy officer on Saturday announced that he will seek the Hawai‘i Republican Party nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Representative Mazie Hirono for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the 2010 General Election, a news
A distinguished airline pilot and retired Navy officer on Saturday announced that he will seek the Hawai‘i Republican Party nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Representative Mazie Hirono for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the 2010 General Election, a news release states.
John Willoughby, a 51 year-old proponent of lower taxes, smaller government, and unconditional Congressional accountability, is a member of the Airline Pilots Association — a labor union that had supported Hirono in past elections, a news release states.
Hirono, 61, has held the seat since winning a 10-way Congressional election in 2006 with 21.8 percent of the vote.
According to Willoughby, the first day in office we will submit tax reform legislation that will increase the take home pay of 40 percent of military and Hawai‘i families by an average of $4,700 a year. This will result in a $940 million annual infusion into the state economy — money that will stay here in the islands where it is needed, in the pockets of those who earned it, and it won’t cost taxpayers one dime, the release says.
Willoughby also intends to fight efforts currently underway in Hirono’s House Committee on Labor and Education to nationalize America’s retirement system. Her efforts would eliminate $80 billion in annual 401(k) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) tax credits, the release says. Hirono’s committee favors a government-controlled retirement account that supplements Social Security with a small monthly stipend.
Additionally, Willoughby vows to fight unjust immigration reform. Current efforts in Congress would allow tens of millions of illegals on the Mainland to receive preferential treatment over Hawai‘i families whose legitimate immigrant family members have been waiting years for immigration relief, the release says. Additionally, he will vigorously support a strong national defense and fight to ensure safe, secure, and drug-free borders while vowing to uphold a swift and sure response to terrorist aggression.
Even before taking his seat in Congress, Willoughby plans to launch a bold new public service and education initiative by building partnerships with the business community that will drastically improve Hawai‘i’s beleaguered public school system, the release says.
Willoughby also wants to make a clear distinction that he is not a “career politician.” He pledges that if elected, he will serve no more than two terms.
John and his wife, Yong Hui, have been married 20 years. They live on O‘ahu with their two sons, Josh and Jeremy, both attending Hawai‘i public schools. They also have an adopted daughter, Su Jin, who is grown and lives on the Mainland.
Visit www.johnforhawaii.com for more information.
