A district with no incumbent, plus winner-take-all primary races, highlight this batch of endorsements for five contested state House races, from Chinatown all the way west to Ewa Beach.
>> District 29 (Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi): This is the rare legislative race, with no incumbent due to Rep. Karl Rhoads’ pursuit of a Senate seat; five Democrats and one Republican are vying.
Alvin Au is a combat veteran and a former top official in two city administra- tions, having served as deputy director of parks and of facilities maintenance, then director of enterprise services.
As a longtime member of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, he knows his district and its issues well, such as homelessness, crime and needed support for small businesses.
Firmo Dayao is a former Philippines city councilman who has some ethnic support for his stated desire to advocate for foreign-born residents.
Valerie Dionne is a labor attorney who calls for leadership and better coordination to tackle homelessness, plus help for businesses.
Daniel Holt knows his way around the Democratic Party and the state Capitol, having been an aide to a couple of legislators and now is the Senate’s assistant sergeant-at-arms; he cites homelessness, safe streets and redevelopment as key concerns.
James Logue, an Army veteran and legal assistant, is a political newcomer who is now Oahu Democratic Committee secretary — and his positions on issues from homelessness, to crime to business investment are thoughtful.
From the seasoned Au to the newcomer Logue, voters have distinct choices — but Au would be a justifi- able pick.
The winner will face Republican Kaiwiola Coakley in the general.
>> District 30 (Sand Island-Kalihi-Airport): It’s winner take all in this Romy Cachola vs. Mar Velasco Democratic contest, as no candidate awaits in the general.
This is a tough one. Cachola is the politico lifer here, and his career has been marked with political savvy as well as marred with occasional ethical breaches. His rival, though, has been too quiet, leaving positions on issues vague. Cachola has enjoyed a loyal constituency who likely wlll endorse him at the ballot box — but we can’t.
>> District 33 (Halawa- Aiea-Newtown): Here’s another winner-take-all Democratic race: freshman legislator Sam Kong faces Tracy Arakaki, in a rematch from two years ago. In 2014, the rivals remained locked in a tight contest all night, before Kong ultimately prevailed.
The affable Kong is a unique candidate, in that he neither accepts campaign donations nor seeks endorsements. His positions, also, are more inclined to stake out causes to make a statement. Arakaki, meanwhile, seems to reflect well the views of this district and its Democratic base. Arakaki, a former TV news cameraman who now owns a production company, deserves a chance to channel his energy for this community, which faces traffic and infrastructure redevelopment challenges.
>> District 36 (Mililani- Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): Two Democrats are vying here hoping to challenge Beth Fukumoto Chang, the Republican House minority leader. Most deserving of that opportunity is Marilyn B. Lee, the area’s representative for 16 years before losing to Fukumoto Chang in 2012. A registered nurse for more than 40 years, Lee tried a comeback in 2014, but that failed effort didn’t dampen her community spirit.
She is vice chairwoman of the area’s neighborhood board and a member of a handful of nonprofit groups. She also is on the state Commission on the Status of Women. She is regarded as a liberal, but her thoughts on issues suggest she can be open-minded and practical when needed.
Zuri Aki, a University of Hawaii law school graduate who was a participant in the Na‘i Aupuni aha, similarly seems aware that bold ideas are needed to address problems such as traffic, the high cost of living and homelessness. At this time, though, Lee looks most able to make a difference, were she to be returned to the state House.
>> District 40 (Ewa-Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point): Two Democrats are seeking the chance to topple Republican incumbent Bob McDermott in the general.
First-time candidate Randy Gonce is the one most likely to pull that off, partly because of his military background — six years in the Air Force — and his endorsements from unions such as Unite Here Local 5, the Teamsters, HGEA and the AFL-CIO, and groups such as the Sierra Club. A Bernie Sanders fan, Gonce learned the nuts and bolts of local politics as an aide for Rep. Matt LoPresti.
He was born in Delaware, raised mostly in Pennsylvania and moved here in 2012. He has a bachelor’s degree in teaching and is working on a master’s degree.
His opponent is Rose Martinez, a longtime district resident with varied professional and community experience who tried in 2012 and 2014 to win this seat.
Correction: Zuri Aki, candidate in the Democratic primary election for House District 36, is a University of Hawaii law school graduate and was a participant in the Na‘i Aupuni aha. He was described as a UH law student and an aha delegate in an earlier version of this editorial and in Wednesday’s newspaper.
