Editor’s Note: In July 2012, Civil Beat sent six questions to each of the candidates registered to run in the Aug. 11 primary for Hawaii Senate District 2. All five responded, including Bob Herkes. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read responses by Wendell Ka’ehu’ae’a, Russell Ruderman, Gary Safarik and Daryl Smith to see how Herkes’ positions compare to those of his competitors. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Herkes’ response.

• General Excise Tax
• Environmental Regulatory Review
• Gambling
• Sunshine Law
• Best and Worst Legislation
• Overlooked Issue

Preferred Candidate Name: Bob Herkes

Senate/House District Number: Senate District 2

Date of Birth: 01/24/31

Place of Birth/Hometown: Born Iloilo, PI, Raised in Hilo, HI

Current Profession/Employer: Retired hotel executive

Education/Alma Mater(s): Punahou, City College of San Francisco, Cornell Hotel School Phi Kappa Phi

1. With the exception for Honolulu rail, the state has not raised the general excise tax in decades. Would you consider increasing the GET to help the state meet its budget demands?

Only if we sunset the State Income Tax. ↩ back to top

2. Lawmakers proposed relaxing environmental regulatory review to spur development and job growth in the 2012 session, and the issue is expected to resurface next year. Where do you stand?

There needs to be regulatory relief but not at the expense of the environment. ↩ back to top

3. Gambling — are you for it or against it? If not, why not? If so, what type of gambling and with what kind of restrictions?

I do not support the “Las Vegas” model but do support casinos in large hotels. ↩ back to top

4. The Sunshine Law is a hallmark of an open democracy accountable to its citizens. Yet, the Legislature exempts itself from this requirement. Do you support more transparency in government operations, or are there legitimate reasons to conduct some of the people’s business behind closed doors?

We discuss bills in caucus so that we understand them but we have NEVER VOTED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. ↩ back to top

5. What is the best legislation — and worst legislation — that the Legislature has approved in recent years? Please explain.

The best was Act 48 dealing with home mortgages. The worst was the PEO bill. ↩ back to top

6. What is an issue that you would champion at the Legislature — one that perhaps has not received much attention, or an issue that is important to your district?

Revision of the State Building codes to put people to work and in homes they can afford. There are many other important issues but this is very important. It is estimated that as many as 80% of homes in rural areas are built without a permit, they are not even on the county tax roles. ↩ back to top