KAILUA-KONA — Incumbent Democrat Nicole Lowen, who represents Kona’s 6th District in the state House of Representatives is asking voters to elect her to a third consecutive term.
KAILUA-KONA — Incumbent Democrat Nicole Lowen, who represents Kona’s 6th District in the state House of Representatives is asking voters to elect her to a third consecutive term.
Republican challenger Bruce Pratt will ask them to reconsider.
A former longtime educator and resident of Kailua-Kona for 20 years, Lowen believes her track record of legislative success and leadership will earn her the right to retain her seat. And she said the experience she brings is not just something her opponent can’t match, but something voters shouldn’t overlook.
“I’ve been in office for four years. I have a working knowledge of the issues that are important and what we can do to start solving some of the problems we face,” Lowen said. “I’ve built relationships that are absolutely essential to getting work done at the capitol.”
Much of that work has been focused on the energy sector, as Lowen sits as the vice chair on the energy committee. Lowen’s focus has been on maintaining customer choice as Hawaii County and the state push toward a 100 percent renewable energy system by 2045.
“I want to make sure that people still have opportunities to reap benefits of renewable energy even if they can’t afford the cost of putting solar on their rooftops,” she said.
Lowen said next session will include an in-depth exploration of different utility structures, including the option of developing a cooperative on Hawaii Island, to determine what’s in the best interest of ratepayers.
She added moving forward her philosophy will mirror what it’s been the past four years, and will focus heavily on education, the environment and affordable housing options in West Hawaii.
Lowen helped create the Hawaii Community College Palamanui campus, and said because enrollment has outpaced expected rates, an increase in programming to grow the campus is appropriate in the immediate.
She’s also interested in exploring another elementary school in the area, as Kealakehe Elementary is one of the largest in the state.
Environmentally, Lowen has passed legislation to help Kona coffee farmers deal with the coffee berry borer and other invasive species. She has now turned a keen eye to work that can help stem the massive bleaching events that have decimated roughly 50 percent of the coral off the West Hawaii coast, including support of legislation that will regulate the sale of reef-damaging sunscreens in Hawaii.
Affordable housing is increasing in West Hawaii, namely in the form of micro-housing units for the chronically homeless scheduled to come online in late November or early December, as well as the first two legs of the five-part Kamakana Villages project, which will provide 170 affordable renting units by the end of 2017.
Lowen said, however, it’s simply not enough.
“We need more inventory in terms of affordable rentals, and the county needs to do more to regulate vacation rentals because they take a lot of units off the market,” Lowen said. “We need to increase shelters. The (micro housing units) are great, but we also need shelter space, and we need to make sure the services over here are equal to those being offered in Hilo.”
A different approach
Pratt, Lowen’s opponent, moved to Hawaii Island in January 2013. He runs a real estate business with his wife and occasionally does pastoral work on the side. He also has a long history of working in the computer industry.
He said that while he respects Lowen’s efforts, District 6 requires better representation.
“(Lowen) says she works hard, and I don’t doubt that, but I believe there’s a way to work with our district to be more effective in Honolulu. I feel like we need a stronger voice,” Pratt said. “I believe the answers to our problems are talking story and hearing from the constituents on what their needs are and possible solutions. And I feel like our current representative is not doing that as well as she could.”
Pratt is basing his candidacy on what he called the three Es — the economy, education and empowerment. He said his primary goal is to improve the life stations of voters in his district, which requires a multi-faceted approach that starts with lessening the cost of living on Hawaii Island.
“I want to reduce taxes and unnecessary regulations,” Pratt explained. “One area that is low hanging fruit is working on exempting food and medical from the (general excise tax). We can save local families $500-$1,000 per year if we can do that.”
Strengthening the economy is the key to combating the daily struggles of local families, Pratt said, and new businesses offering better paying jobs is the first step. By creating a more business friendly environment, Pratt hopes Hawaii Island can retain more of its local workforce by offering a real chance at prosperity.
One of his top priorities will be to develop vocational training through high schools, possibly in conjunction with Palamanui, to teach viable trades to students who don’t envision college as part of their futures.
He added that affordable housing and the homelessness crisis are also on his radar. Like Lowen, Pratt appears focused on emergency shelters, as he said he’d been working with Dr. Cliff Kopp — a well-known advocate of homeless shelters in West Hawaii — before the doctor’s sudden passing earlier this month.
Pratt explained why he believes much of his vision is something Democratic voters in Kailua-Kona can rally behind, even if his approach to solving certain problems is focused more on private or public/private solutions rather than just governmental intervention in the form of more state-run programs or higher taxes.
“I’m not going (to the State House) to be a party guy, I’m going there to be a solutions guy. I’m going there to be a representative of the people, first and foremost,” Pratt said. “I’m certainly going to have some different political takes on things, and I’m not always going to be on board with (Democrats), but I think we’ll agree on a lot of things.
“I want more jobs, more housing, less taxes, to educate our kids and to fight homelessness. I’m also looking to protect the environment and don’t want to upset the apple cart with the unions. None of that is in contradiction with a Democratic voter.”