David Tarnas, courtesy David Tarnas

KOHALA – David Tarnas, a former state legislator and recent Hawaii County Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, has launched his campaign for Hawaii State Representative in House District 7, serving North Kohala, South Kohala and North Kona.

The seat is held by Rep. Cindy Evans, who told West Hawaii Today that she plans to run for re-election.

Tarnas sent this media release announcing his candidacy:

Waimea, Hawaii: On this day, exactly one year before Hawaii’s 2016 Primary Election, former State Representative David Tarnas has announced that he will seek election as the State Representative for House District 7 representing North Kohala, South Kohala and North Kona.

“In my thirty year career, I have proven myself as an effective legislator, businessman, environmental planner, and community organizer. Now, I want to put my skills and experience to work for the community in the State House of Representatives,” said Tarnas. “I have worked for clients in the island’s key economic sectors of agriculture, forestry, tourism, astronomy, ocean science and technology, and the military. I have helped government agencies plan important infrastructure projects like highways and harbors; essential resource management areas like watersheds, coastal parks and marine protected areas; and innovative urban planning projects to improve accessibility and mobility in our communities.”

David Tarnas has lived in this district for nearly thirty years, and it is where he and his wife, Carolyn Stewart, have run their own business, Marine and Coastal Solutions International, and raised their family. In his professional career, he has worked in both the public and private sectors. Tarnas was elected and served as the State Representative for North Kona and South Kohala from 1994 to 1998, working in leadership positions including Vice-Chair of the Education Committee and Chair of the Ocean Recreation and Marine Resources Committee.

“Throughout my career, I have demonstrated that economic growth and environmental protection can go hand-in-hand and that a strong economy does not have to occur at the expense of the environment,”said Tarnas. Through the planning firm Marine and Coastal Solutions International, Tarnas has been responsible for carefully managing development of private residential and commercial projects to protect environmentally sensitive areas, including planning, impact analysis, permitting, compliance monitoring, reporting, and government and community relations.

For decades, Tarnas has served as an environmental planner and meeting facilitator on projects to develop scientific research facilities, renewable energy projects, harbors, highways, farms, ranches, fishponds, and forest plantations in Hawai’i. He is a graduate of the Hawaii Agriculture Leadership Training Program and currently serves on the Hawaii County Agriculture Advisory Commission and the Community Advisory Group for the U.S. Army Garrison – Pohakuloa Training Area.

Throughout the State, Tarnas has also worked as a strategic planning consultant helping corporations, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and stakeholder partnerships prepare and implement strategic plans for development and operations. He is a Pacific Century Fellow and on the Advisory Committee for the Ulu Mau Hawaii Island Leadership Series. Active in Democratic Party politics, Tarnas has worked to strengthen the Hawaii County Democratic Party and most recently, served as the Hawaii County Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii from 2013 to 2015.

“With our children away from home studying at college,” said Tarnas, “I am ready to go back to the legislature to work hard to protect our environment, build a sustainable economy, strengthen our education system, protect equal rights and opportunities for the entire Hawaii Island community, and to regain your trust in government through my strong ethics and diligent work.”

For more information on David Tarnas and the Tarnas for State House campaign, please go to votetarnas.com.