Full Name: Ronald Dan Kouchi

Name on Ballot: Ronald Dan Kouchi

Age: 58

Political Party: Democrat

Running For: Senate

District: 8

Email Address: rdkouchi@hawaii.rr.com

Current Job: State senator

Place of birth: Los Angeles

Campaign website: ronkouchi.com

Job history past 10 years:

State senator; community relations for Showe Land and Marine LLC and Garden Isle Disposal; Councilmember Kauai County.

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

1982 County Council and served 1983-2002; mayor of Kauai 2002 and lost. County Council 2006 and won 2008 and lost; and state Senate 2010 until present.

Other civic experience or community service?

Former director for the Kauai Chamber of Commerce and Kauai Visitors Bureau. Former board member for the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital and YMCA. Former Capital Campaign chairman for the Wilcox Health Foundation.

Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?

I am married to Joy Tanimoto, and we have been blessed with two wonderful sons who we are very proud of. I am committed to building a better brighter future for all of our families.

What makes you qualified to be a state senator?

With over 30 years of service in various elected offices coupled with my business background and community service I believe that I am most qualified to continue to serve as a state senator.

Gov. Ige says he will once again propose increases to the state gas tax, vehicle weight tax and state registration fees to help pay for state road projects. Do you support his proposal?

We were able to fund some of the projects by using $37 million in general funds. I would look instead to other ways of funding these improvements before considering raising taxes.

If the Legislature is again asked to extend Oahu’s half-percent excise tax surcharge to finance construction or operation of the rail system, would you support such an extension?

We would need a detailed funding and routing plan before we could consider any new funding. Equally important I would need to see compelling and detailed data supporting any such proposal before acting upon it.

Should the state play a role in cracking down on illegal vacation rentals in Hawaii?

In cases such as this I believe firmly in the principle of home rule and that each county should develop the most appropriate regulatory scheme that best responds to their individual communities needs. We will be there to work with where necessary.

Should the Legislature require that police officers in Hawaii use “body cameras,” and help to fund the use of those cameras?

We will continue to support law enforcement and provide our officers with necessary tools and equipment to safety carry out their responsibilities and best serve the people of our community.

Dozens of police officers in Hawaii are disciplined each year for committing crimes or violating departmental policies, but little information is released about the officers or their cases. Do you think there needs to be greater public disclosure?

We need to strive for a fair balance between transparency in government and the rights of privacy for all residents of our state including law enforcement. The constitutional rights of police officers must be respected while at the same time providing the people of Hawaii with the information needed.