• The Garden Island is asking the same three questions of every candidate for the House of Representatives, to help residents decide who to vote for on Nov. 8. Sandra Combs is the Republican candidate to represent District 14, which
• The Garden Island is asking the same three questions of every candidate for the House of Representatives, to help residents decide who to vote for on Nov. 8.
Sandra Combs is the Republican candidate to represent District 14, which covers Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa and Wailua Houselots. Her platform includes improving traffic congestion, fighting the drug epidemic on Kauai and improving the quality of veteran services.
TGI: What strengths will you bring to the House of Representatives?
Combs: Yesterday I read the Facebook words of a voter, “To … my Kauai friends. Please vote for the most intelligent, thoughtful, fair, non-status quo, decent, kind, hard-working, peaceful, human being I have ever met in my life. And an incredible teacher according to her students that I have known through the years …”
I am humbled by these words and know that I will bring the trust placed in me by the voters. That trust is my greatest strength. They have trusted me as a teacher for their children and can trust me to represent their best interest in Oahu.
TGI: What do you see as the top two priorities for your district?
Combs: I could say traffic, I could say housing, I could say a lot of things, but the most pressing priorities in my district are electing officials who truly represent the wishes of the people they represent and electing officials who will do what they say they will do.
The lack of transparency leads to mistrust and that mistrust is well-placed in elected officials who are elected to fulfill their own agenda rather than the will of the people. People need to be encouraged to participate in their government; we should make that easy for them, not confusing and difficult.
TGI: As a legislator, what would you do to improve the lives of the people you represent?
Combs: I would do absolutely nothing to improve my voters’ lives — I would, however, do everything in my capacity as representative to empower them to improve their own lives.
From introducing initiatives that encourage and incubate small businesses to instigating education reform that offers career opportunities to high school graduates to creating online interactive participation in the legislative process, I will engage people with tools to better their situation and that of their community. We value, take pride in and take care of, that which we own — including the improvement of our lives.
