Hawaii Races to Watch: Two Attorneys Face Off in City Council District 4 (East Honolulu-Waikiki-Ala Moana)
Meet City Council 4 candidates Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa.
Council District 4 stretches from East Honolulu to Ala Moana Beach Park, which makes for a diverse mix of constituents—from some of the wealthiest residents in the state to Waikiki’s significant homeless population. Some of the top issues here are: rising property taxes, illegal bed-and-breakfast rentals, heavy traffic congestion and new development.
There is no incumbent in this nonpartisan race because Councilmember Stanley Chang opted to run for the U.S. House (the seat held by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa who chose to run for U.S. Senate). Both were unsuccessful. Chang’s choice to not seek re-election to the Council prompted four candidates to compete for the open seat. After defeating Natalie Iwasa and Carl Strouble in the Aug. 9 primary election, Tommy Waters, who received almost 33 percent of the vote, and Trevor Ozawa, who claimed 26 percent, will face off in the Nov. 4 general election.
TOMMY WATERS
Age:
48
Occupation:
Attorney
Political experience:
Three terms in the State House of Representatives. Former chair of the House Judiciary Committee 2006-2008. Former chair of the Higher Education Committee. 2004-2006.
Work experience:
Attorney for 20 years. Neighborhood Board member.
Key issue facing your district:
Homelessness, traffic, property valuation and property taxes.
Why should our readers vote for you instead of your opponent?
I am experienced and committed to keeping Hawaii a special place.
TREVOR OZAWA
Age:
31
Occupation:
Attorney
Political experience (if any):
First-time candidate
Work experience:
Attorney, legislative aide, law clerk, legal researcher
Key issue facing your district:
1. Fiscal responsibility: This means creating a balanced budget that does not resort to increasing property taxes and other fees to make up the cost overrun. Cost-saving measures are more effective than trying to raise more revenue by overtaxing our constituents.
2. Safety of our public spaces for everyone: Our parks, streets, beaches, and sidewalks should be clean and accessible for everyone. This means addressing other relevant issues, specifically how we fund the maintenance of these spaces and addressing homelessness head on.
3. Creating opportunity for jobs and business growth in Honolulu. Hawaii's future hinges on our ability to attract and retain young talent. The City is responsible for regulating, supporting and overseeing many facets of business. At the City Council, we have the ability to make it easier for businesses to flourish. We will work with all stakeholders to identify and remove barriers for job growth and to promote economic development in Honolulu.
Why should our readers vote for you instead of your opponent?
This community deserves to be represented by someone who was born and raised in the district and who understands firsthand the issues we face every day. Now, more than ever, we cannot continue to allow politics as usual. It is time for independent leaders who will act in the best interest of our community and future generations. This community deserves a City councilmember that has real experience working at Honolulu Hale (for District 4) and knows how to effectively draft and pass bills. A vote for Trevor Ozawa is a vote for a candidate whose only commitment is to work tirelessly for the residents of District 4.
