Name on ballot:

Diamond Garcia

Running for:

State House – District 43

Political party:

Republican

Campaign website:

diamondgarcia.com

Current occupation:

Minister/Office Manager, Minority Leader’s office

Age:

23

Previous job history:

Ministry

Previous elected office, if any:

Neighborhood Board

Please describe your qualifications to represent the people of Hawaii.

As someone who was born and raised on the Waianae Coast, I know the struggle that so many of our local families go through. Through hard work and determination I was able to lift myself out of these circumstances. I ran for State Senate in 2018 garnering over 4 thousand votes. I received the highest votes in the 2019 neighborhood board elections. I currently serve as the Office Manager to Minority Leader Gene Ward. I’m humbled to have the support and endorsement of our law enforcement (SHOPO). I’m also humbled to have the support of Andria Tupola in this race.

What will be your top priority if elected?

Addressing the Cost of Living and our States Economy

As Hawaii faces the COVID-19 pandemic, what more can be done to protect residents’ health?

Healthy Lifestyle Education. There are many things that we can teach our constituents that will empower them to boost their immune system‘s that cost the government zero dollars. — I also would like to see more rigorous COVOD-19 testing.

What more can be done to help residents who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We need to reopen our tourist economy in a safe way, so that our workers can get back to work. I would also support income tax breaks for a period of time to give relief to our local families.

Should public worker furloughs, pay cuts or downsizing be used to help the state deal with lower tax revenues and higher expenses during the pandemic? Why or why not?

I don’t support public worker furloughs or pay cuts. If we are going to cut workers pay, let’s start with the politicians. — I believe that we need to cut government waste and go thorough all state departments to analyze our funds to see if they are being used properly. Once we locate mismanagement, we should pull funds back to the general budget.

Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered greatly due to the pandemic. If elected, what would you propose to support and diversify the state’s economy?

We can’t diversify our economy overnight. We need to open tourism so that our economy can bounce back in the short-term. However, we need to seriously start looking into ways that we can diversify our economy. Some ideas, would be the film industry, the medical industry, the scientific industry, and the agriculture industry.

Do you support reforms to policing in Hawaii? If yes, please explain what reforms you support.

Yes, we need to give more money to our police departments not less. We should be protecting our police officers not harassing them.

Do you support or oppose the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island and why?

Until UH cleans up their mess, I do NOT support the construction of TMT. Once appropriate action is taken on the part of UH, I’m open to the building of TMT.

Is there anything more that you would like voters to know about you?

I will represent YOU, the people of district 43. We have not been represented properly these last two years. I will continue the legacy that Andria Tupola started while she served in this seat from 2014-2016