Rod Tam today announced his candidacy for State Senate as a Republican

News Release from Rod Tam Campaign June 7, 2016

Former state senator, state representative, and city councilman Rod Tam today announces his candidacy as a Republican for state senate of his home district 13. He seeks to represent neighborhoods with which he is very familiar as a 4th generation resident.

Time away from politics has allowed Rod to reflect on his personal values and work accomplishments over the years, and has led him to conclude that the Republican Party’s acronym L.L.I.F.E resonates with him. The ideas that Liberty, which goes hand in hand with Limited government, Individual responsibility, Fiscal responsibility, and Equality of opportunity align with his personal outlook on life itself.

Rod was educated in public schools in the district. Puunui, Nuuanu, and Liliha saw a young Rod Tam learn his family's values. From his youth and adult life he lived in Liliha, Nuuanu, and now Pauoa, where he still lives with his family. In serving the public for so many years, he has become known as "Mr. Sunshine." Rod loves one-on-one interaction with people, gaining him the additional nickname, "Mr. Grassroots."

Although away from public service for five years to care for his aging and ill parents, Rod has kept in touch with the needs of the community. He fully understands that the economy is not doing well and he has innovative ideas to incentivize job creation by small business.

Moreover, always a champion for our public schools, Rod continues to recognize the need to properly prepare our children for productive and fulfilled lives as citizens.

Raised in a culture where family values are paramount, Rod continues to be concerned about the health, safety, and quality of life for our seniors.

Rod Tam also wants to ensure reverence for our constitution, the source of our freedoms and democratic way of life.

Rod Tam focuses on in-person communication and hands-on involvement living up to his motto “Working for our community.” His emphasis will be:

• Re-vitalizing “Democracy” Government of the people, by the people , and for the people, civil rights, anti-discrimination, and due process

• Stimulating our economy through formal economic planning, small business diversification, and tax code revision.

• Providing adequate public education funds to revive our schools academic excellence.

• Preservation of senior citizens quality of life safety, healthcare, and social services.

• Efficient, Resourceful, and Courteous government service

Please contact Campaign Manager, Lionel Wright at 808-783-2115, lionelwright808@gmail.com for more information.

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Chairman's 2016 Election Update

Aloha         June 7, 2016

Today, I am happy  to announce that former state senator, state representative, and Honolulu City Councilman Rod Tam has switched his political party from Democrat to Republican, and has filed to run as a Republican candidate for the state senate from the senate district encompassing Liliha, Palama, Nu’uanu, and Pauoa. Rod has always sought to give his constituents a real voice in their government. Moreover, Rod is a vocal proponent of the Republican values of liberty, limited government, individual responsibility, fiscal accountability, and equality of opportunity, all of which are highlighted in our Party’s 2016 platform. Rod promises to wage a vigorous campaign to represent these values in the state senate.

The Hawaii Republican Party regularly conducts campaign training workshops to familiarize its candidates with Hawaii’s campaign spending and ethics laws and strongly urges all of its candidates to comply with every applicable legal requirement. We are aware that several years ago, Rod pled guilty to misdemeanor charges and no contest to campaign spending violations. Under Hawaii’s deferred acceptance of guilty plea statute (HRS § 853-1), the court did not accept Rod’s plea, but deferred acceptance of the plea upon conditions specified by the court. After fulfilling all of the court’s conditions, including providing 300 hours of community service, Rod was discharged by the court and all of the charges against him were dismissed. Rod was therefore never convicted of the charges against him. Subsequently, his arrest record was expunged by the court, giving Rod a clean record and a fresh start.

Rod's change to the Republican Party took courage. I believe Rod will be a true constituent representative, one who will work hard for the people of his district. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rod Tam to the Republican Party.

Mahalo for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Fritz Rohlfing

Chair, Hawaii Republican Party  

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SA: Rod Tam running for state Senate as Republican