Name: Jerald J. Larkey
Current job: Small Business Owner, Part-time Actor on Hawaii Five O (starting episode 3 as a reoccurring bodyguard for the Governor) and Retired Naval Officer.
Residence: How long you’ve lived in the district: Almost 5 years
Background: What qualifies you for the position? What else have you run for? Have you been in public office before and if so, what position? My 24 years of leadership and management experience as a Communications Officer in the U.S. Navy dealing with multi-million dollar budgets and large federal contracts has prepared me for this office. I have a B.S. with dual majors in Management and Computer Information Systems plus an A.A. with dual professional focuses in Electronics and Technologies Instruction. I have the organizational and technical experience required to thrive in Hawaii’s coming Green economy. I was also politically active on the national scene as Hawaii’s State Chairman of America’s Independent Party (AIP) until the current Republican State Chairman, Jonah Kaauwai, convinced me to return to the Republican Party and run for office.
Previously as the State’s Chairman, I was involved in bi-weekly teleconferences with national public figures such as Ambassador Dr. Alan Keyes and numerous members/candidates of Congress. I am fully aware of the current state of the union and I will not hide the truth from you!
Major issues: What are the biggest issue in your district/state and your proposed solutions? Higher educational institutions, maintaining property values, Art Cultural Center and improving education. Today, I had a meeting with Dr. Barnes, the Dean at Wayland Baptist University in Aiea to discuss their University moving their state headquarters to Mililani Mauka. This action would dramatically improve the quality of life for citizens who seek Undergraduate and Graduate Education. Also, I have been in discussions with other citizens to petition the state to prevent Real Estate Developer’s Castle and Cooke from adding additional low-cost housing units in the land previous identified to hold an Art Cultural Center. In my opinion, Mililani Mauka is central Oahu’s Hawaii Kai, and we must maintain the property values for our homeowners. I feel an Art Cultural Center would better suit our community’s needs. My support of education is covered below under public education.
Budget philosophy: What is your budget philosophy? Do you foresee increases in revenue through tax hikes and fees or do you believe in cutting spending? We must decrease taxes by reducing excess wasteful spending. I am a fiscally conservative candidate who will use a zero-sum gain for all budgetary demands. If a critical program needs more funding, another program must be cut or a new non-taxable funding strategy must be developed to pay for the increase. The previous leadership has collectively failed to provide the proper oversight of our state’s budget and economy. With the current state of the federal government, we must learn to balance our budget and slowly wean ourselves off of being completely dependent upon federal money for survival.
Taxes and fees: Do you believe Hawaii’s taxes should be lowered or increased? If you do plan to raise taxes and fees, which specific taxes or fees would you increase? Or would you sign a pledge that says you will not raise taxes? I have signed a pledge to manage our budget with a zero-net sum mentality. We must reduce the burdens put on small businesses in order to entice new entrepreneurs to attempt the American Dream. Please look at history, most economist agree that when taxes are lowered, the economy improves. Higher taxes will lead to a worsening economy.
Rail: If the city has difficulty raising enough revenue for the rail, would you support state tax support for the rail project? Possibly, I need to obtain the detailed project budgetary reports, the Environmental Impact Statements, and Union contracts to scrutinize carefully. Wasteful spending cannot be tolerated any longer!
Legalized Gambling: Do you believe gambling should be legalized in Hawaii in any form and if so, in what form? Gambling should be used as a temporary funding strategy to offset the large budget deficit and/or possibly fund the Rail System. We should put a 10 year charter on gambling and review its renewal at the appropriate time. A major draw-back would be the loss of airfare to our airlines for our citizens who visit Las Vegas. One of the benefits would be more tourist would visit Hawaii if gambling were included in their paradise vacation.
Public Education: What are your plans to support the public education system while ensuring accountability and results for our students? Do you support an appointed or elected school board? My wife and I moved our family to Mililani because of the outstanding school system. The quality of a school system is directly related to property values which I will maintain as your Representative. I would support a plan Duke Aiona is working on which would require 90% of funding for education to make it down to the schools (Principals and teachers). This measure would ensure our teachers and students were receiving the required resources. I would work with the DOE to alter our curriculum to better prepare our Keiki for a large amount of Green jobs that are being created within Hawaii. Otherwise, our local companies will be required to outsource for the appropriately trained highly technical applicants, thus leaving our citizens under / unemployed.
Economic Growth: What are your plans to promote long-term economic growth for Hawaii? My background in Electronics and Computers has prepared me for the Green Economy that we must embrace. Dependence on oil is not feasible. Our state is not self-sustainable if a major disaster were to affect shipping. My experience would make me the perfect fit on a alternative energy committee. Adding gambling to our tourism model should prompt additional revenue which I would want reinvested back into the state for programs dealing with the elderly, education and possibly a portion to fund the rail program.
Crime: What is your solution to making Oahu a safer place to live and visit? By changing our educational curriculum to better match our economy we will have more citizens with good paying jobs. We must continue our efforts combating drugs and take a tough stand on homelessness.
Second Amendment: Would you support concealed carry or more freedom for law abiding firearms owners, do you feel the current laws should remain in place, or do you believe stricter gun laws should be in place? I support our constitutional right to bear arms. Please look at the statistics available worldwide. There is more violet crime in countries where the law abiding citizens have been disarmed. Citizens should understand that our Second Amendment rights have kept us free from tyranny, not our political leadership.
Homeless: What is your solution to homelessness? Recently, I visited the Homeless Office at the VA and found that numerous homeless people arrive on one-way airline tickets with the sole purpose of living on our beaches and using our precious resources. I recommend we identify where the homeless originate and ship (not fly) them back to the mainland if they were not from Hawaii. As for our homeless citizens, I would support measures to provide job training and low cost housing until they can stabilize their lives. We must take care of our people because misfortune could happen to anyone.
Compact with Micronesia: Micronesians are able to freely move to Hawaii, which they are doing in large numbers to take advantage of the public education system, medical services and other government benefits. But the governor and other public officials say they are taxing Hawaii’s resources and costing the state more than $100 million a year. This is a federal decision, but would you share your view on whether the Compact with Micronesia should remain in place, should there be some parameters put on the Compact or do you have other solutions? The federal government does not have unlimited power… So we may better control our destiny, I will help educate our legislators about our state’s rights using the 9th and 10th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Every state in the United States of America has sovereign power (though the federal government doesn’t want most people to understand this power). In order to prevent tyranny, the U.S. Constitution also gives our states the authority to disband and reform the federal government if required. We have the best country in the world because we have the best model in place.
Akaka Bill: What is your position on the Akaka Bill? Do you believe it will unite or divide Hawaii? What is your vision for how the Akaka Bill will change Hawaii? I pride myself on stating the truth. The Kingdom of Hawaii was illegally seized and we must make some sort of amends to the native people. The American Indian Tribes have been given their self-rule on their reservations, so why can’t we remedy this situation by granting a portion of land to the Hawaiian Nation.
Jones Act: Opponents of the federal Jones Act say it increases the cost of living in Hawaii through a shipping duopoly while supporters say it is needed to ensure port security and American jobs. While this is a federal decision, would you share your view on whether you support an exemption for Hawaii from the Jones Act or should it remain in place? Hawaii needs to petition Congress to modify the Jones Act to allow direct trade with China, Japan, The Philippines, South Korea, and all the other Pacific Rim countries. My only stipulation would be the shipper must be owned by a U.S. company. This measure would dramatically reduce the cost of exporting products. Also inform your Congressional Representatives that we must start increasing and enforcing trade tariffs. Our current leaders are supporting the multi-national corporations over our U.S. companies.
Endorsements you would like to list: I am not soliciting corporate sponsorship. This is a major problem with our political system now. If a politician is sponsored, how do you think they are going to vote in regards to their sponsors? I am 100% for the average citizen of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, and Waipio Acres.
Any additional comments: I am a veteran of two wars who served our country for over 24 years. Now I am a small business owner and my interest in running for office was prompted by my frustration with many of our morally bankrupt leaders! Somehow, we have been trained to accept deception and deceit from our elected officials, which I will not accept any longer. Let me end by saying: Our values need to be reinstated, our moral compass needs to be recalibrated, and the only way this is going to happen is if “We the People” stop electing candidates who have only perpetuated the problem. We need strong leaders who are willing to fight the corruption and fix this disaster. If you vote for me, I guarantee that I will fight the corruption and work with like minded politicians to restore our values, integrity, and honor.
God Bless you all. Mahalo.
Contact information:
Phone: (808) 638-4036
E-mail: jerald.j.larkey@gmail.com
Mail: 95-759 Lanipaa St, Mililani, HI 96789
Web site address: Jerald J. Larkey for State Representative (Facebook)
Campaign Slogan or Theme: Life, Liberty, Limited Government, and Lower Taxes!