CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT: Arturo Reyes – Candidate for US Senate

Arturo Reyes. Youtube image.

By Maui Now Staff

Arturo Pacheco Reyes is a candidate for the US Senate in the State of Hawaiʻi.  He is a non-partisan candidate, and is among a list of 10 individuals identified as candidates on the 2014 primary election ballot.

The complete list of candidates (in alphabetical order) includes: Joy Allison (N); Cam Cavasso (R); Brian Evans (D); Harry J. Friel, Jr. (R)’ Colleen Wakako Hanabusa (D); Michael Kokoski (L); Eddie Pirkowski (R); Arturo Pacheco Reyes (N); John P. Roco (R); and Brian Schatz.

Full Name: Arturo Pacheco Reyes
Date & Location of Birth: November 30, 1951, Manila, RP
Current Residence: 94-1432 Kahuli Street, Waipahu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi 96797
Occupation: Retired
Elected offices held: None.  (( former candidate for US Senate (2002/2012/2014), candidate for US Congress (2001), candidate for Governor, (2000/2004/2010), candidate for City and County Council, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (1998)))
Education: (1) Doctor of Medicine, OLFU, 2005-2010 (2) Master of Science in Administration, CMU, 1984, 96-97 (3) BSOE, Business Management, WBU, 1983 (4) BS In Public Administration, PLM, 1972 (5) Associate of Arts, PLM, 1971 (6) Allied Health & Sciences, UH Systems, KCC/HCC/WCC
Community Involvement: Medical Missions (2005-2010), RP, CFC/NRS Relief Fund Drives (1986 -1987, Hawaiʻi Special Olympics (1987); UNESCO-UNICEF Operation Handclasps; candidate US Senate (2002/2012/2014), candidate US Congress (2001), candidate Governor (2000/2004/2010) candidate City and County Council of Honolulu, Councilman (1998)
Family Status: Divorced

US Senate Candidate Questionnaire:

1. What is the number one issue facing Hawaiʻi, and why do you feel it warrants special attention? How do you plan to resolve this issue? If you have more than one item, please elaborate.

Answer: Trust, Economy, Infrastructures to improve Hawaiʻi Commerce and Trade.

• #1 Issue: Trust: A lot of people are not voting because of the lack of trust to our elected government official. I intend to resolve that by bringing in H.O.P.E and restoring trust to the people by working closely with them and working with liberty and justice for all.
• #2 Issue: Economy.  The nation and state of the State Economy have been broke. Lots of unemployed and lots of family dysfunctional because of bad economy. I plan to resolve this issue through mega projects outlined in creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Details of these are in the attached letter to Outrigger Hawaiʻi Hotel Political Action Committee dated June 11, 2014 as attached.
• #3 Issue: Infrastructures to improve Commerce and Trade: Hawaiʻi had been accepted to the Union since 1959, and we have been receiving allocations from the federal government to improve our state infrastructures. Since 1960, we have only built a little over 660 miles of freeways and highways, most of which were borne out of the Federal Allocations. NO great strides have been made to show and demonstrate our people and the world that we are efficiently employing our best to improve the state infrastructures, and I intend to implement and work on these issues closely with the US Joint Armed Services, State of Hawaiʻi and City and County Officials.

2. What are your thoughts on wages for Hawaiʻi workers? What can you do at the federal level to assist Hawaiʻi residents with the high costs of living, and quality of life?

Answer: Wages are low and workers are over worked with workers having to work double jobs to make ends meet. I can sponsor a federal bill to increase the minimum wage that would be proportional to the national average so that the minimum wage law could make life easier, and quality of life higher not only to Hawaiʻi workers but to all levels and sectors of society. I would call for a minimum wage of $15 per hour and would sponsor that a periodic review and increase be made in compliance with the constant rise of cost of living for appropriate adjustments and increase.

***Candidate spotlight segments were compiled as a public service to further educate and inform Maui voters about the upcoming primary election on August 9, 2014, and the general election on November 4, 2014. The questionnaires  were distributed via mail following the primary election candidate filing deadline for select races affecting Maui County.  The responses do not reflect the opinion or position of Maui Now or Pacific Media Group.