I have recently noticed my candidacy for Hawaii's 2nd CD discussed among the Kos community and a few days ago posted my own first Diary entry. Because most readers outside Hawaii will not have a clue as to who I am or why they may or may not want to support me, I will do my best to post new entries and respond to comments that may come as a result. Because I am "on the road" campaigning around the state on a full time basis, it will not always be easy to respond promptly to comments but I will do my best.
So what does distinguish me from the other candidates?
First and foremost would be: Values, energy and experience. I am a pragmatic idealist. I will address local needs-rural healthcare, the environment, agriculture, affordable housing, traffic solutions but I will also be passionate about pursuing peace, justice and sustainability at the national level.
Secondly and also of great importance if you are a voter in the district is the simple fact that I also live in the district and am the only candidate who is from the Neighbor Islands (60% of district is outside of the main island of Oahu). My wife Claudette and I have lived and raised our family on Kaua'i over the past 26 years. The people of this District know that I have fought for them in the past and will continue fighting for them in Congress.
What experience do I have that the others do not? I have served in county government as a member of the Kauai County Council and as a State Senator. My pre-politics background is in small business and I have survived the trials and tribulations that go with that. My parents and grandparents are from the "grapes of wrath" era and moved from Arkansas and Oklahoma during the post depression period. I have raised a family. My son is 25 and my daughter (who is off to college soon) is 18. My college degree was obtained by attending night and weekend classes while raising my family and struggling in business. My wife and I share our home with her parents who have lived with us for many years. We have two dogs, a cat and numerous birds. I would suspect that none of the other candidates have the breadth and scope of life experience I am fortunate to have been able to live.
What have I done while in public office? My record of legislative accomplishments includes significant achievements in both passing good legislation and stopping bad legislation. In a later post I can expand on the specifics (as this is already growing far too long) but I have introduced and helped pass education measures that increased funding and reduced class size, as well as introduced and passed original initiatives in support of agriculture, environmental protection and the pursuit of renewable energy options. Much more on this can be found on my website http://www.garyhooser.com
What are my top three priorities?
Peace, justice and sustainability-in a local context, and on national and global levels. Each leads to the other.
The stories we tell are the stories we become.
Peace: We must bring our troops home, now. We must also develop a long-term, coherent foreign policy that wins back the respect we have lost on the world stage. We must break our nation's addiction to oil. I co-sponsored a resolution opposing unilateral, pre-emptive action against Iraq prior to the start of the war and voted in the recent legislative session to bring our National Guard Troops home. I have helped protect veterans' rights and health care, and I will continue to fight for increased funding for veterans.
Justice: Government must ensure just treatment for all-including those on the fringes of society. This includes the homeless and immigrants, groups for whose rights I have advocated. I support reforming the USA Patriot Act to preserve our citizens' right to privacy. I was one of only two "NO" votes (out of 75 Hawaii legislators) that voted against recently passed legislation that increased law enforcement powers to conduct electronic surveillance in Hawaii. We must strengthen our public education system and Social Security because both are essential to building a just society. And I have been an outspoken advocate for greater transparency and "clean elections"-because those who govern must be held accountable. I support living wage legislation.
Sustainability: Locally, nationally and internationally, we need to focus on both environmental and economic sustainability. Here in Hawai'i, as an island state we must strive even more for self-sufficiency in food and energy, removing ourselves from dependency on oil. We must work towards building a diversified economy that is less dependent on tourism and military spending. Much more needs to be done and the message and mission of sustainability must be taken--- with passion--to the national level.
If you care about the same values I do, and if you would like to help elect someone willing to fight for those values, then I ask again for your help and support today. Please visit my website to find out more at http://www.garyhooser.com
Thank you in advance to the Dailykos community for any help you are able to offer. gh