Tom Belekanich
Tom Belekanich (Republican Party) ran for election to the Hawaii House of Representatives to represent District 7. Belekanich lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Belekanich completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
General election
David Tarnas defeated Tom Belekanich in the general election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7 on November 6, 2018.
General election
General election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Tarnas (D)  | 76.9 | 6,584 |
| Tom Belekanich (R) | 23.1 | 1,974 | ||
| Total votes: 8,558 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
David Tarnas defeated incumbent Cindy Evans in the Democratic primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7 on August 11, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Tarnas | 53.7 | 2,904 |
 | Cindy Evans | 46.3 | 2,505 | |
| Total votes: 5,409 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Tom Belekanich advanced from the Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7 on August 11, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 7
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Tom Belekanich | 100.0 | 713 | |
| Total votes: 713 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Tom Belekanich completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Belekanich's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Affordable Housing; Homelessness (drug/alcohol/mental illness rehab availability; jobs/economy
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Fiscal responsibility, transparency, public service... legislators work for the people not their own and/or special interests. Strongly support family values, pro-life, legislation that embraces God, country, in that order.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
President Donald Trump... all he has accomplished in his first two years... economy, rebuilding the military, getting America back in terms of foreign policy respect. I believe in Trust but verify, bottom line its about time we put America first again.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Book - "Make Your Bed" by ADM William H. McRaven (USN Retired). His values/principles as described in his book transcend all walks of personal and professional life. In my view, they embrace values and character traits that we all should strive to emulate/achieve. The other is the 1969/70 Graham Nash song, "Teach Your children". It was written at a turbulent time in America, Vietnam, Racial tension, Martin Luther King, Kennedy assassinations, the Kent state shooting, Woodstock etc., In my view our divisive nature of today's politics, culture, modern times, and biased media reporting is more troubling. I think the music industry should embrace another Woodstock type event to begin healing our national divisiveness.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, transparency, integrity, leadership, fiscal responsibility
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Honesty, transparency, integrity, leadership, fiscal responsibility
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Honesty, transparency, integrity, leadership, fiscal responsibility... and above all ability to build political coalitions and work across the aisle
What legacy would you like to leave?
Being a true public servant, totally void of serving special interests and working to and achieving success for my constituents... so that when I am gone, their lives and the lives of their elders and children and a little better. RESPECT
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The JFK assassination... 10
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Paperboy, musician, then US army Intelligence (26 years), drafted after college then stayed in for 26 years, retired, then another 18 years as federal civilian... all in intel field
What happened on your most awkward date?
Forgot my wallet
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Memorial Day... remembers those who have served the nation. Freedom is not free
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Book of Joy, re: the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
A respected, community leader, social worker, teacher, minister
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
Location (Waikoloa, Hawaii... the big Island), because of the people, culture I interact with, especially Native Hawaiian
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
the 1969/70 Graham Nash song, "Teach Your children".
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Watching family values erode from what I experienced in my youth to the fast paced, facebook type of social media fake personas of today. Social interaction in any society is incredibly important
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
The Hawaii political legislature/elected officials are 95% blue left liberals. There is less that 5% red conservative in the same bodies. That said, the people I have encountered on my campaign journey are conservative... but our voting percentage is one of the lowest in the nation. My frustrations is that people want change but it has never happened. Complacency is rampant
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes, but not in all cases... I believe in term limits
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Affordable Housing; Homelessness (drug/alcohol/mental illness rehab availability; jobs/economy
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Affordable Housing; Homelessness (drug/alcohol/mental illness rehab availability; jobs/economy
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes
What process do you favor for redistricting?
no
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
finance, health, military
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
US Congress
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
A recent encounter was a family that recently moved from CA to HI... they are financially challenged, blamed CA for high cost of living, taxes, health care etc., husband is a vet and relies only on VA for health care... wife has health issues/her health care under Obamacare plans cost her $1,300 monthly. She saw at least a 60% premium increase and can longer afford CA... at age 57 they are basically starting their live over not that they are here in HI. Sad
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.
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Hawaii House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
