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2010 LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
- Name: Tom Berg
- Current job: Administrative Services Manager for House Minority Floor Leader State Representative Kymberly Pine
- Residence: How long you’ve lived in the district: Since February 1997
- Background: What qualifies you for the position? Eleven solid years working at the State Legislature – assisting in the crafting and research that goes into writing the CIP, grants, and bills for both Democrats and Republicans that advance and improve the quality of life for our residents.
- What else have you run for? Same in 2008.
- Have you been in public office before and if so, what position? No
- Major issues: What are the biggest issue in your district/state and your proposed solutions?
- When residential developers are given the green light to advance their projects contingent upon certain requisites be attained- my current State Senator Will Espero and my current Representative Rida Cabanilla have refused to mandate those requisites be met. For example, the state Land Use Commission approved the Ewa by Gentry Community Association schemata with the requisite that the developer- Gentry Homes Inc., be responsible for widening Geiger Road and making the improvements to that right of way….this has not happened. Deeper into Ewa Beach, the state Land Use Commission approved of Haseko’s Ocean Pointe Master Planned Community contingent upon Kualaka’i Parkway (North South Road) connecting to Keoneula Boulevard….this too, has not happened. Planners approve of these developments but look the other way when the roads are not being built. If elected, I would make these agreements of public record and available for everyone to review instead of kept secret and off limits to the general public. The East West Connector Road was listed as the most important road yet to be built on the Ewa Plain- per the Ewa Roadway Connectivity Study – it is to link Kualaka’i Parkway with Ft. Weaver Road. The portion of the East West Connector Road not being built is owned by DR HORTON and State Senator Will Espero has stated at an Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting that this road is not needed. This is alarming and we need the right people in office to advocate for these roads to be completed rather than our current representation which has a habit of looking the other way and who happen to coddle developers stonewalling their obligations. Stop the reckless development and get the roads built first- then proceed.
- 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? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpuNrfk8n1k – I concur with Tito Montes- stop the fleecing.
- 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? Already signed the NO TAX PLEDGE.
- Rail: If the city has difficulty raising enough revenue for the rail, would you support state tax support for the rail project NO?
- Legalized Gambling: Do you believe gambling should be legalized in Hawaii in any form and if so, in what form? BINGO/and shipboard gaming off-shore
- 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?
- Appointed and AUDIT THE DOE
- Economic Growth: What are your plans to promote long-term economic growth for Hawaii? Repeal the death/estate tax; promote military and Hawaiian sites on the Ewa Plain to be preserved and turned into museums that generate quality jobs and revenue for the state- Ewa Air Field for example; get out of the way of the private sector that wants to build a DINNER TRAIN linking Waipahu with Haleiwa- serving fine local fresh produce/cuisine along the way- would bring hundreds of jobs and be the most popular attraction outside of PEARL HARBOR- old train right of way still exists; promote wave technology and export power; promote aquaculture; promote modular home factories that construct home building kits for affordable housing/mobile home parks; promote private sector to build new toll roads that would help everybody get to the job site and double their productivity time; allow shipboard gaming off-shore; and upon approval- sell to tourist a certified bottle containing a drop of oil in water – the oil leaking into Pearl Harbor out of the Arizona could be tapped- like Germany did when they sold bits of pieces of the BERLIN WALL- we could do the same with the Ewa Air Field if that air field is going to be torn up for development- cash in first.
- Crime: What is your solution to making Oahu a safer place to live and visit? Pass Karen’s Law; build a prison here- locally operated and privately owned; and make it a mandatory 20 year sentence if caught stealing a car- no ifs and or buts; broaden scope and reach of three strikes law; increase penalty for driving without insurance and get 20% of those cars not supposed to be on the road off the road with simple software that links insurance companies with Dept of Motorized Vehicles/police.
- 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 concealed carry laws to promote those wanting to protect themselves to do so.
- Homeless: What is your solution to homelessness? TENT CITIES; stop bills introduced by Democrats like the Maintenance Fee Tax they proposed- SB2402- which only passes the increase in costs on to renters- which in turn induces more to be homeless as higher rents are the culprit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8teHoQ0LOQ
- 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? Mandate the feds pick up the tab- if they do not- those folks should take up their plight with Congress and it be a slow weaning so they can get proper treatment in due time under planned, thought out recourse that places/shifts costs to the feds.
- Akaka Bill: What is your position on the Akaka Bill? Do you believe it will unite or divide Hawaii? Divide Hawaii. What is your vision for how the Akaka Bill will change Hawaii? President Reagan wanted to abolish the BIA- and phase out reservations altogether so we actually embrace and implement what Dr. King was trying to accomplish. Dr. King would turn over in his grave if he knew we were going in the opposite direction. End affirmative action altogether. We all bleed the same color- so why not be equal on all fronts? Native Hawaiians should no longer be the wards of any government and control their own destiny and have the same cohesion as Amish, Mormons, and other enclaves that function just fine in America without the need for a separated government splinter. We don’t need a separate Hawaiian Police Force, courts, and so forth- that’s going in the wrong direction and spews racism rather than squash it.
- 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? End the Jones Act- exemption is sorely needed- just ask any farmer on the Big Island.
- Endorsements you would like to list: Proud to have none- except last time around- I got SHOPO, PayChecks Hawaii, and the Rifle Association.
- Any additional comments: We need a CON CON asap.
Contact information:
Phone: 808- 753-7324
E-mail: tom@bergforhouse.com
Mail: 91-203 Hanapouli Circle, Ewa Beach, Hawaii 96706
Web site address: www.bergforhouse.com