With the Sept. 18 primary election fast approaching, most elected officials are understandably spending a lot of their time sign-waving and canvassing their districts.

State Rep. John Mizuno, a Democrat who represents Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter and Kamehameha Heights, doesn’t have an opponent in the primary, so he doesn’t have to worry about such things.

But Mizuno, chairman of the House Committee on Human Services, will be busy with legislative business next week. He has scheduled two briefings on Thursday — the eighth and ninth committee hearings Mizuno has held since the Legislature’s regular session concluded in late April.

Several of the hearings have been held jointly with the House Committee on Housing, chaired by Rep. Rida Cabanilla. The hearings have usually involved only Cabanilla, Mizuno and Rep. Tom Brower, vice chairman of the human services committee. Most other committee members have skipped them.

(Cabanilla and Brower are also Democrats.)

Mizuno believes it’s legislators duty to tackle tough issues like affordable housing and homelessness — even during recess.

The Sept. 16 back-to-back episodes of “The John Mizuno Show” center on teen pregnancy and elder care.

Stay tuned for future episodes!