Hawaii House of Representatives District 24 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Hawaii, 2022

---

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • Municipal

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 24 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 24

Incumbent Adrian Tam defeated Jillian Anderson in the general election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 24 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Tam (D)	67.8	4,681
		Jillian Anderson (R)	32.2	2,224

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,905
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Jillian Anderson (R)

I am running because I want to stay in my home state and not need to sacrifice my financial security, personal safety, or quality of life to do so.

With the most lopsided State Legislature in the country (4 Republican VS 47 Democrat House Representatives & 1 Republican VS 24 Democrat Senators as of 2022), our leaders lack the chance to engage in well-rounded discussion, resulting in outcomes which often do not represent the varied opinions of the general public. No matter your party or past voting record, help make this the year we can achieve greater balance in our Legislature and ensure more substantive conversations among our representatives.

"We do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate." With less than 1/3 of State House District 24 having voted in the August Primary, this November is your chance to make your voice heard. Unhappy with the direction our State is headed? Then be sure to vote for the candidate you feel shares your concerns and is ready to fight for real solutions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Jillian Anderson (R)

My top priority is crime and public safety. From our young professionals to our precious kupuna, rising violence in our community has resulted in lifestyle changes and diminished quality of life. The Legislature must work with our law enforcement to pass enforceable policy which protects law-abiding residents and makes it clear that committing crime has consequences.

Homeless too is of growing concern, and as a Legislator, I would advocate for investment in services that can provide a permanent path off the streets. I would approach homelessness from its main contributing factors-- behavioral health issues (mental illness & substance abuse) as well as our increasingly unbearable cost of living.

Our state's infrastructure conditions are of great concern. As of 2019, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawaii scores a D+ as it relates to infrastructure condition, meaning many elements are approaching their end of life and are at a strong risk of failure. It is imperative that remedying such hazards is top-of-mind, as failure to prepare is simply preparing to fail. We must bring our core infrastructure up to satisfactory levels, and also plan for consistent maintenance and upgrades.

Our energy grid is well on its way to a zero carbon future, yet as a Representative, I would emphasize feasibility as we increasingly transition to renewables, prioritize the reliability of our grid, and always consider the energy costs to be endured by our people.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Jillian Anderson (R)

At its core, government should be a body by the people, for the people. An entity which brings together those with passion, vision, and a general need to do good in the world with the little time they have in it. Where the belief that dedication and hard work can bring about results that change the lives of others for the better. I often find myself recalling a notable quote of Theodore Roosevelt when summarizing such a perspective -- "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." In government, we need well-rounded leaders who strike the right balance between bold aspirations and the inevitable bounds of reality. This outlook to me comes naturally. I value my innate sense of good judgment, open-mindedness, high level of morality, and ability to stay grounded when most would feel overwhelmed. I too embrace an instinctive optimism, seeing the silver lining in even the darkest clouds, and maintaining a sincere belief that most of our wildest dreams for what our State can become lie in the realm of possibility as long as those with influence maintain the proper focus and are willing to put in the work necessary to achieve it.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Jillian Anderson (R)

One of the most eye-opening aspects of having witnessed the role of a legislator as it pertains to governmental responsibility is that one does not need to, nor should they, be an expert at everything. Firstly, one must understand they serve their people, not the other way around. The power bestowed is not provided to the individual themselves, instead they act as a vessel for the interests and needs of their communities. My priorities I hope express the same thoughts as your own. If not, I am eager to accrue any and all ideas of those I seek to represent. This leads to the second quality a representative must possess -- open-mindedness. It is incredibly easy to think we know it all, and when given the power of a vote on the House floor, this vice creeps in even more so. Though if I have learned anything from my experience working in the 2022 Legislative session, it is truly that testimony provided by everyone from state agencies to concerned residents is what shapes outcomes, and by extension, the future of Hawaii. If elected, I will acknowledge all angles presented, and utilize the third most integral quality I have identified -- judgment -- in order to unify a firm foundation of principles with an open minded perspective. With a concrete understanding of the role of a state legislator, and an appreciation for the need to approach its duties with open-mindedness and solid judgment, I believe I have it in my ability to be the representative I would want for myself, and as I hope this message has conveyed, be the representative you would like working for you, too.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Jillian Anderson (R)

Ideally, the executive and legislative branches should work in concert with one another, combining the capacities of their divided, yet balanced powers, to achieve the same end -- bettering the lives of our people. Though too often, the political turns personal, which reduces the effectiveness of either entity. As a Legislator, I would work to understand what our Governor wishes to achieve and how the Legislature can be of aid -- and I would expect this to go the other way around as well. Should the branches reach an impasse, communication and compromise will be key.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Jillian Anderson (R)

Hawaii faces an aging population, while younger generations are being forced to leave our islands due to a high cost of living, struggles to achieve homeownership, a limited job market, and more. Over the next 10 years, this imbalance will only continue to grow, which is why it is necessary for our State Government to enact policies now that reduce issues inevitably to be caused by these trends. We must create an environment that our youth can thrive in, such as by expanding workforce readiness programs and job placement for our high school and college graduates, encouraging homeownership though first-time homebuyers programs as well as making our housing more affordable, and diversifying our economy from growing the number of small business owners to providing incentives for new industries to expand to our state. Concurrently, we must bolster our healthcare system to accommodate the needs of our kupuna, with greater recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals as well as expanded specialities. Those on a fixed income must also feel secure that they can live out the rest of their days in the state they love without fear of running out of funds or becoming a financial burden to their families. Our kupuna too should be able to age-in-place and have access to services that meet their changing needs.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Jillian Anderson (R)

Inherently, incumbents running to hold their seat possess advantages when it comes to the role, yet this does not necessarily mean that a newcomer is not capable of assuming the responsibility. In this contest, my deep understanding of the legislative process minimizes the disparity among myself and my opponent. Having worked for our Hawaii State Legislature, I have a strong foundation as it comes to the duties of a representative and know this knowledge will be of great value if elected.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Jillian Anderson (R)

To be an effective leader, it is crucial to know when to fight to achieve an objective, no matter what it takes. To know when to walk away, when the amount to be lost substantially outweighs the amount to be gained. And most forgotten, to know when to compromise. Understanding that in my first term I will likely be in the minority party, compromise will undoubtedly occur, though this will often be for the good of our people. Meeting in the middle frequently produces outcomes that are most sound, are accepted by the majority of the general public, and with more widespread support, are more likely to be successful. In most instances, compromise will be a desirable means to achieve an end, especially as our Legislature presently lacks balance along party lines.

See also

More about these elections:

• Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18District 19District 20District 21District 22District 23District 24District 25District 26District 27District 28District 29District 30District 31District 32District 33District 34District 35District 36District 37District 38District 39District 40District 41District 42District 43District 44District 45District 46District 47District 48District 49District 50District 51Submit