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 Daryl Smith. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full. Read responses by Wendell Ka’ehu’ae’a, Russell Ruderman, Gary Safarik and Bob Herkes to see how Smith’s positions compare to those of his competitors. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Smith’s response.

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

Preferred Candidate Name: Daryl Lee Smith

Senate/House District Number: Senate District 2

Date of Birth: 08/01/1953

Place of Birth/Hometown: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Current Profession/Employer: Retired Disabled Veteran US Army Pohakuloa Training Area

Education/Alma Mater(s): No response provided.

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?

No, we need to focus on cutting spending, not increasing it. ↩ 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?

I do not wish to relax anything to do with environmental safety but we must cut unnecessary spending. ↩ 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 would not mind a lottery that helps to fund local education only. ↩ 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 peoples’ business behind closed doors?

Everything should be public knowledge. ↩ back to top

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

No response provided.↩ 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?

An issue that I would champion at the legislature is our currently top heavy Department of Education which has not been thoroughly audited in over 40 years. 51% of our entire state budget is set aside for education yet we continue to increase costs with no accountability. This is an issue that needs to be addressed and would make a huge difference in my district. ↩ back to top