Dalene McCormick

Dalene McCormick's career experience includes working in management.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

The first thing you should know about me is that I'm not a career politician. I'm a wife, a mom, a tutu, and someone who has spent my entire adult life working and building a career in management through hard work, accountability, and serving others.

After my husband and I became empty nesters, we moved to Hawaiʻi in 2016, where I continued my management career in Kona, bringing years of leadership experience gained while working as a contractor for the State of California.

I've had the privilege of serving my community as an American Red Cross disaster responder during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and later during a two-week deployment following the Lahaina fires. Those experiences reinforced my belief that leadership is about serving people when they need it most.

My Christian faith and conservative principles guide every decision I make. I believe in strong families, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and rewarding hard work. Those are the values I will bring with me to represent District 5.

I believe integrity, transparency, and service are the foundation of good government, and they are the principles that guide my life. I believe in common-sense laws, accountable government, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and meaningful oversight of every publicly funded program.

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?

My platform is Integrity, Transparency and Service. The 3 key components I feel are critical for elected leaders and are the core of the life that I lead.I believe in common sense approaches to process and law, and that integrity and oversight must be a component of all taxpayer funded programs.Hawaii entrusts lawmaking almost exclusively to elected representatives, it's supposed to be a representative democracy. Public testimony plays a critical role and is often overlooked when making decisions. This has to change.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The public policy issues I am most passionate about are fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and protecting individual freedoms.

I believe every taxpayer dollar should be spent wisely, with strong financial oversight, regular audits, and transparency so the public knows how their money is being used. Government should be accountable for its spending, eliminate waste, and ensure programs are producing measurable results.

I am also committed to protecting individual freedoms and constitutional rights. I believe government works best when it empowers people, respects personal responsibility, and avoids unnecessary regulation that limits opportunity or burdens families, businesses, and property owners.

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

Integrity

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Represent your constituents

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

yes, especially as a minority caucus.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I am a conservative grass roots republican in a deep blue state. Endorsements are not my focus.