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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Member, Clean & Sober Homes and Halfway House Task Force, present

Member, Corrections Population Management Commission, present

Member, Government Contracting Task Force, present

Member, Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, present

Member, Operation Homefront of Hawaii, present

Member, Re-entry Collaborative Steering Committee, present

Member, Steering Committee of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, present

Member, Citizens Advisory Committee, Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Former Member, Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Economic Development and Taxation

Former Member, Economic Development, Environment and Technology Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, Education Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Chair, Ewa Neighborhood Board

Former Member, Higher Education and the Arts Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Member, Holomua Elementary School Inspection Team

Former Member, Housing Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, Judiciary and Labor Committtee

Former Vice Chair, Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Vice Chair, House Committee on Transportation, 1999-2002

Education

  • BS, Business Management, Seattle University, 1978-1982

Professional Experience

  • BS, Business Management, Seattle University, 1978-1982
  • Host, Espero Conversation, Olelo Cable Show, present
  • Former Employee, First Hawaiian Credit Corporation
  • Executive Secretary, Honolulu Neighborhood Board Commission, Administration of Frank Fasi
  • Former Employee, Norwest Financial
  • Community Relations Manager, D.R. Horton, Schuler Division, 2005-2007
  • General Manager, Ewa by Gentry Community Association, 1996-2000
  • Property Manager, Chaney, Brooks and Company, 1995-1996
  • Operations Coordinator, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, 1995
  • Executive Secretary, Neighborhood Commission, City and County of Honolulu, 1987-1994

Political Experience

  • BS, Business Management, Seattle University, 1978-1982
  • Host, Espero Conversation, Olelo Cable Show, present
  • Former Employee, First Hawaiian Credit Corporation
  • Executive Secretary, Honolulu Neighborhood Board Commission, Administration of Frank Fasi
  • Former Employee, Norwest Financial
  • Community Relations Manager, D.R. Horton, Schuler Division, 2005-2007
  • General Manager, Ewa by Gentry Community Association, 1996-2000
  • Property Manager, Chaney, Brooks and Company, 1995-1996
  • Operations Coordinator, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, 1995
  • Executive Secretary, Neighborhood Commission, City and County of Honolulu, 1987-1994
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2017-2018
  • Senator, Hawaii State Senate, District 19, 2002-2018
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, 2018
  • Vice President, Hawaii State Senate, District 1, 2015-2016
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, District 19, 2013-2014
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 1, 2014
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1999-2002
  • Appointed by Governor Ben Cayetano, Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, December 1999

Former Committees/Caucuses

Member, Clean & Sober Homes and Halfway House Task Force, present

Member, Corrections Population Management Commission, present

Member, Government Contracting Task Force, present

Member, Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, present

Member, Operation Homefront of Hawaii, present

Member, Re-entry Collaborative Steering Committee, present

Member, Steering Committee of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, present

Member, Citizens Advisory Committee, Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Former Member, Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Economic Development and Taxation

Former Member, Economic Development, Environment and Technology Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, Education Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Chair, Ewa Neighborhood Board

Former Member, Higher Education and the Arts Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Member, Holomua Elementary School Inspection Team

Former Member, Housing Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, Judiciary and Labor Committtee

Former Vice Chair, Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Vice Chair, House Committee on Transportation, 1999-2002

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BS, Business Management, Seattle University, 1978-1982
  • Host, Espero Conversation, Olelo Cable Show, present
  • Former Employee, First Hawaiian Credit Corporation
  • Executive Secretary, Honolulu Neighborhood Board Commission, Administration of Frank Fasi
  • Former Employee, Norwest Financial
  • Community Relations Manager, D.R. Horton, Schuler Division, 2005-2007
  • General Manager, Ewa by Gentry Community Association, 1996-2000
  • Property Manager, Chaney, Brooks and Company, 1995-1996
  • Operations Coordinator, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, 1995
  • Executive Secretary, Neighborhood Commission, City and County of Honolulu, 1987-1994
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2017-2018
  • Senator, Hawaii State Senate, District 19, 2002-2018
  • Candidate, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, 2018
  • Vice President, Hawaii State Senate, District 1, 2015-2016
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, District 19, 2013-2014
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 1, 2014
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1999-2002
  • Appointed by Governor Ben Cayetano, Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, December 1999
  • Director, Ewa Beach Boys and Girls Club, present
  • Member, Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund, present
  • Member, Ewa Beach Lions Club, present
  • President, Friends of the Ewa Beach Library, present
  • Board of Directors, Friends of the Hawaii State Art Museum, present
  • Member, Medical Marijuana Legislative Oversight Working Group, present
  • Member, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, present
  • Member, Special Action Team on Affordable Housing, present
  • Advisor, West Oahu Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, present
  • Board Member, West Oahu Economic Development Association, present
  • Member, Workforce Development Council, present
  • Former Coach, American Youth Soccer Organization
  • Former Participant, City Vision Teams
  • Former President, Ewa Beach Community Association
  • Chair, Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund
  • Former Director, Ewa by Gentry Community Association
  • Former Vice President, Ewa by Gentry Community Association
  • Member, Hawaii Reef & Ocean Coalition
  • Member, Holomua Elementary School Inspection Team
  • Former Coach, Little League Baseball
  • Former President, Oahu Filipino Jaycees
  • Former Member, OLPH Knights of Columbus
  • Former President, The Ewa Beach Business and Professional Association
  • Former Director, West Oahu Economic Development Association

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Certificate of Appreciation: Kanu O Ka'aina

In Recognition, Eye of the Pacific Award

Certificate of Appreciation: Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

Distinguished Service Award: 'Ewa Beach Lions Club

Honorary Naval Aviator on Board: USS Ronald Reagan

Certificate of Appreciation: Civil Air Patrol

Certificate of Appreciation: 'Olelo Community Media

  • Victor Dungca Espero

  • U.S. Navy, retired; Owner, Restaurant, Catering Service, Carehomes

  • Paulina Calip Espero

  • Licensed Practical Nurse, retired; Owner, Restaurant, Catering Service, Carehomes

  • 1

Policy Positions

Hawaii State Legislative Election 2000 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legally available.
- X

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when pregnancy results from incest, rape, or the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

5. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and notification requirements as decided by each state government.
- No Answer

6. Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- X

7. Support "buffer zones" at abortion clinics by requiring demonstrators to remain a certain distance from doorways and driveways.
- X

8. Prohibit public funding for abortions and organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

9. Other
- No Answer

Budget and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.

1. Education (Higher)
- Greatly Increase Funding

2. Education (K-12)
- Slightly Increase Funding

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase Funding

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase Funding

5. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase Funding

6. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- Greatly Increase Funding

7. Welfare
- Maintain Funding Status

8. Other
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Decrease

3. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Corporate taxes
- No Answer

5. Gasoline taxes
- No Answer

6. Hotel room taxes
- No Answer

7. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease

8. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Slightly Increase

9. Inheritance taxes
- Eliminate

10. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

11. Rental and tour vehicle taxes
- No Answer

12. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

13. Vehicle taxes
- No Answer

14. Other
- No Answer

15. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Undecided

16. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- Undecided

17. Would you support returning any operating surplus to Hawaii taxpayers?
- Undecided

18. Would you support placing any operating surplus into a "rainy day" fund?
- Yes

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- X

3. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X

4. Implement the death penalty in Hawaii.
- No Answer

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

6. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- No Answer

7. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

8. Prohibit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

9. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

10. Support .08 blood alcohol content limit defining drunk driving.
- No Answer

11. Prosecute as adults, youths accused of a felony.
- No Answer

12. Increase penalties for crimes committed on school grounds.
- No Answer

13. Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
- No Answer

14. Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
- X

15. Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
- X

16. Allow public worker unions to compete with private companies for contracts to build and operate new prisons.
- X

17. Other
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- X

2. Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- X

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- No Answer

4. Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

5. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

6. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X

7. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

8. Support posting the Ten Commandments in public schools.
- No Answer

9. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- X

10. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- X

11. Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- X

12. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

13. Implement penalties, such as relocation, termination, or retraining, against all public school teachers whose students do not meet testing standards.
- No Answer

14. Use funds set aside for state court settlements to increase the number of special education teachers.
- No Answer

15. Other
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.

1. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- No Answer

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X

3. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer

4. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

5. Provide tax credits to companies building hotels in Hawaii.
- X

6. Other
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Which of the following state agencies should take race and sex into account when making employment decisions?

1. College and university admissions
- Undecided

2. Public employment
- No

3. State contracting
- No

4. Other
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
- X

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- No Answer

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- X

4. Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
- No Answer

5. Support funding for recycling programs in Hawaii.
- No Answer

6. Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer

7. Suspend participation in un-funded, federally-mandated, environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer

8. Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power companies.
- No Answer

9. Prohibit access to coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
- No Answer

10. Set aside certain areas of the Northwestern Hawaiian Island coral reefs for limited subsistence, fishing, and gathering.
- X

11. Other
- No Answer

12. Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
- Undecided

Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.

1. Do you support the current limit on terms for Hawaii Governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Hawaii State Senators and Representatives?
- Undecided

3. Individual
- Yes

4. PAC
- Yes

5. Corporate
- Yes

6. Political Parties
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

8. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Undecided

9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- Undecided

10. Do you support voting on-line?
- No

11. Do you support on-line voter registration?
- No

12. Do you support allowing persons of non-Hawaiian descent to run for trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs?
- No Answer

13. Do you support the creation of a sovereign Hawaiian Nation?
- Yes

14. Other
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
- X

2. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

3. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

5. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- No Answer

6. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- X

7. Require background checks of gun buyers at gun shows.
- X

8. Require a license for gun possession.
- X

9. Other
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

1. Provide tax incentives to small businesses that provide health care to their employees.
- No Answer

2. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- X

3. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

4. Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
- X

5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

6. Support a patient's right to sue his or her HMO.
- X

7. Support a patient's right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- X

8. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

9. Should Hawaii extend health benefits to domestic partners of state employees.
- No Answer

10. Other
- No Answer

Social

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

1. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X

2. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- No Answer

3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X

4. Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
- X

5. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

6. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans, and job training and placement.
- X

7. Allow shipboard gambling in state waters.
- X

8. Other
- No Answer

9. Should physician-assisted suicide be legally available in Hawaii?
- Undecided

10. Should Hawaii include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

11. Should Hawaii recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Yes

12. Should Hawaii restrict marriage to a relationship only between a man and a woman?
- Yes

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Maintain current time limits on welfare benefits.
- X

2. Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
- X

3. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

4. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- X

5. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- No Answer

6. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

7. Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
- No Answer

8. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

9. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

10. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- No Answer

11. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
- No Answer

12. Other
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- No Answer

State Bills