VIDEO: John Carroll – Candidate Profile 2012

John Carroll. Photo by Wendy Osher.

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM-ePjJyY5g /] Interview and transcription by Wendy Osher

INTRO: Tell us about yourself and your campaign.

Aloha.  My name is John Carroll and I’m running for the United States Senate.  I’m doing so for a number of reasons.  A little bit about my background–I came to Hawai’i on a football scholarship through Tommy Kaulukukui, who was the head coach at the University of Hawai’i.  I went on to get a degree in Education.  Later on I was able to get a law degree.  I also had the privilege of flying for Hawaiian Airlines for a number of years–all the way from the DC-3s through the Convairs and up to the Lockheed 10-11–a tremendous opportunity for me.  In addition, to that I’ve also done international business with Japan Airlines All Nipon Airwaves, and other entities.  In addition to that, I’ve also served four terms in the state House of Representatives, and one term as a state senator.  The reason that I am mentioning these things is because the next person going into the US Senate has got to have a real understanding of international business, military operations, and the future of our country with respect to freedom.

Question 1:  What is your number one priority for Hawaii in this upcoming term and how do you plan to implement action to accomplish this goal.

My number one priority in this race, as it has been since 1972, when I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 0014, is to get rid of the oppressive, unconstitutional restrictions that we have on shipping into the State of Hawai’i.  In 1801, Chief Justice Marshall, in an announcement in a federal case between New Jersey and New York, stated very clearly that every state, regardless of its location, regardless of the location of its ports, should have equal access to interstate commerce with the states, nations, and the Indian tribes.  That’s right out of the US Constitution commerce clause.  Hawai’i has no pipelines, highways or railroads, and for us to have these restrictions is absolutely blatant constitutional violation.  The leaders that we’ve had in both parties have not been willing to take up the (inaudible) to knock these restrictions down.  As your US Senator, I affirm, and I swear to you that I will do that within the first two years that I am in office. 

Question 2:  Why should Maui constituents vote for you; and what direct impacts to you hope to make in Maui County if you are voted into office.

The main thing that I intend to do for the island of Maui is to ensure that you have the ability to do business here as other enclaves around the world can do.  At the present time, because of the Jones Act restrictions, your agricultural production is practically nil, and your businesses are affected to the extent of 25-30%, as far as their bottom lines are concerned because of the shipping restrictions.  The main benefit that Maui will have if I am the next US Senator, is that ships from Singapore, Hong Kong, Belgium, Japan, Korea, and China, will be coming in and out of Kahului Harbor.  I also intend to try to get the Superferry back, which I think most people on Maui certainly did want.  I believe that having a person in the US Senate who understands international business, and who also understands how to work with other senators, can make the difference.  I believe that if we have a Republican Senate Majority, which I believe we will have, that I can get that passed immediately.  If we have a Democratic Majority, which I hope we do not, then I will still be able to get it passed as I have done in the past in our local state Legislature here as a state senator.  If you don’t know it, I actually introduced virtually all of the current environmental law that we have by working with Democrat legislators–people such as Beppu, King, and so forth.  I look forward very much to making Maui the paradise that it should be, and to eliminate the homelessness and the joblessness that we all see people suffering from at this time. 

Question 3:  What concrete examples can you give of your experience that makes you more qualified that other candidates included in the US Senate primary ballot.

First of all, the other three people that I’m running against, they’re all nice people.  They’re bright, and they’re all three professional politicians.  I’m running against primarily Ms. Lingle in this primary race, and she has had 16 years–eight as Maui mayor and eight as governor of the State of Hawai’i.  She has failed to get the Superferry here; she failed with the furlough Fridays; she failed with our economy.  She didn’t do anything to basically help eliminate the economic restrictions that the Jones Act–even though it’s part of our Republican Party platform.  And she also has been in favor of the Akaka Bill.  What I intend to do very differently is that I will basically try to get Hawaiian homsteaders to have the fee simple interest in their homeland, so that they can own that property and pass it on through their family, without fear of losing it after somebody goes below the 25% quantum.  I believe that my experience in the state Legislature, as a senator is going to be very handy working in the US Senate.  I believe that the fact that I have international business as well as military background just sets me clearly apart from the other three.  None of them, as far as I know, have even had a full-time job in the private sector in the years that they have been in.  They’ve all had their time.  I say it’s time to give you the chance–let us younger fellows come in and do something that’s going to really make some sense.  I know that age is going to be brought up as a problem in this race.  I know that Senator Akaka, and Senator Inouye are much, much older than I am, but I hope that my youthfulness will not bother anybody, and I hope they vote for me in spite of that.  Mahalo me ke aloha pumehana. 

Closing thoughts:

My name is John Carroll.  I’m running for United States Senate.  I am asking everyone to go to my website–that is www.carrollforsenate.com or www.carroll4senate.com.  If you look at that, you will see all you need to know about me and my background.  I certainly encourage everyone to vote, and would ask that every one of you consider the background, the capabilities, and the record–the actual legislative records of every one of us–and I’m sure that you will vote Carroll in the coming US Senate election.  Mahalo nui.