Full Name: Shirlene DelaCruz Santiago Ostrov

Name on Ballot: Shirlene D. Ostrov

Age: 47

Political Party: Republican

Running For: House

District (House): 1

Email Address: shirlene@shirleneostrov.com

Current Job:

Small business owner, retired Air Force colonel

Place of birth:

Honolulu, Hawaii

Campaign website: shirleneostrov.com

Job history past 10 years:

23+ years in the Air Force, retired colonel (1991-2014)

President and CEO of Ares Mobility Solutions (2014-present)

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

No

Other civic experience or community service?

Co-founder and chairman of the Board of Halau Nohona Hawaii, a Hawaiian cultural school in the Washington, D.C., area

Board member, Honolulu CrimeStoppers

Board member, Women’s Mentoring Network

What makes you qualified to be a U.S. representative?

I know that I can use my decades of leadership skills and service that will help Hawaii and our nation. The current administration is marked by knee-jerk partisanship, massive debts and unfunded liabilities. I believe I have the skill sets that might be able to resolve these complex challenges.

Do you support the use of United States combat troops in Syria to defeat ISIS, or to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad?

I do believe that the U.S. has a major leadership role in Syria and we already deployed special forces in an “advise and assist” role, which is my definition committing combat troops on the ground. Though I support that, I do not support conventional, large-scale U.S. ground troops there.

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Iraq, or should those troops be withdrawn?

Yes, I firmly support continued use of our troops in Iraq. As the campaign against ISIS advances, we must see this to victory. As ISIS loses parts of their self-proclaimed caliphate, they turn to desperate attacks in other parts of Iraq. We need U.S. troops to ensure lasting defeat.

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, or should those troops be withdrawn?

In Afghanistan, we have given back much of what we’ve gained in the past few years, thanks to a singular focus on timetables for withdrawals rather than on military success. We need enough forces and (to) use rules of engagement oriented toward victory rather than just about keeping up appearances.

Should the United States recognize a Native Hawaiian government through an administrative rule or an act of Congress?

An act of Congress will ensure Native Hawaiians get the same recognition as American Indians and Alaskan natives. This will help protect programs that benefit Native Hawaiians and will help reform and restore their governmental structure. This process of federal recognition would help secure Native Hawaiians’ existence as a people.

What changes should be made to the federal Affordable Care Act?

I believe in a patient-centered health care system, based in free markets, fostering competition and driving health care costs down. Americans should be allowed Medical Savings Accounts and should be able to roll over unspent money each year. Give people freedom to choose and manage their own health care.

Should the federal government legalize marijuana?

No, this is not a federal issue. I do, however, defend states’ rights to make those choices. It’s perfectly constitutional for states like Colorado and Oregon to experiment with decriminalization and Washington, D.C., should stay out of those decisions. I support and defend the 10th amendment of our Constitution.