Perry Gregg

Perry Gregg was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He graduated from Evanston Township High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1983 and a law degree from the University of California, Davis, in 1986. Before retiring, Gregg's career experience included working as a vice president, in computer hardware and software, and in AI and robotics engineering.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Feminist, raised in Evanston, Illinois by mother Doris Jefferson, teacher and father Lucius P. Gregg, Jr. the fourth African American graduate of the Naval Academy. Perry Emeritus Board Member Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent, Inc. (W.O.M.A.N., Inc.) San Francisco (1st man), former VP Harvard Club of San Francisco & Board Member, Advisory Board Member Taproot Foundation. Former Engineering Manager at Apple, Director of Software at NeXT (Steve Jobs direct report), Director of Software at Skully, VP of Engineering Robotics at a stealth San Francisco Startup. Harvard AB graduated 1983. University of California, Davis King Hall Law School, JD graduated 1986.

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?

Resolving Native claims is a matter of both justice and future-building. A stable, prosperous, and respectful community depends on our ability to address historical wrongs in a way that creates certainty for all. The settlements act approach is to build on the principles of recognition, respect, and partnership. with the US Military

While upholding legal and moral obligations to Hawaiian Indigenous, the goal is to ensure transparency and open communication throughout the settlement process. It is important to pursue resolutions that honor Pacific Islander rights without creating instability for existing residents. A collaborative, respectful process that provides land and resources that are owed while fostering cooperation benefits all.For decades, Hawaii has led the nation in acquiring K-12 teacher and education administration talent. Thanks to our dedicated students, families, and educators we've consistently invested more than the average of the other US states yearly per pupil. We'll continue to build on that foresight by measuring, testing and training our schools and teachers, ensuring that every student has access to the best education in the country. Compensation will be tied to success.The time for debating the Northern Pacific garbage patch and Oahu cesspools is over. The effects pose a clear and present danger. Leadership is needed that treats this crisis with the urgency it deserves. The platform includes aggressive but achievable targets for untreated waste water reductions going after the University of Hawaii identified 14,000 worst pollution sources out of 88,000 identified. Efforts will be made to hold polluters accountable who do not take advantage of shared cost initiatives to help them make appropriate corrections. Taking decisive action now is essential to protecting health, tourism, jobs, homes, resources, military, law enforcement, first responders, veterans, their families and the future.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that a specific environment can sustain indefinitely. I want to shift Hawaii policy makers over to that model for ourselves.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father. Lucius P. Gregg Jr. was an aircraft commander, corporate executive, and educational administrator who was interviewed by The HistoryMakers, a digital archive of the African American experience.

Early life and education:

Born: January 16, 1933, in Henderson, North Carolina.

Parents: Rachel and Lucius Gregg, Sr.

High school: Graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago in 1950.

College: Earned his bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy as the fourth African American to graduate from the institution.

Graduate degree: Received a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1961.

Career:

Gregg began his career in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot in 1955, serving as project director for space technology and commanding the VIP Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, reaching the rank of major. He later became associate dean of science and a program officer at Northwestern University. His corporate career included leadership roles at First Chicago University Finance Corporation, Bristol-Myers Co., Citibank, and Hughes Electronics. In 1999, he founded the Foundation for the Study of America's Technology Leadership.

Awards and recognition:

Dad received numerous accolades, including being named a Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achiever, Engineer of the Year by the Washington Academy of Sciences, and one of the 10 Outstanding Young Men by the Chicago Junior Association of Commerce & Industry. He was also included in The HistoryMakers of America collection at the Library of Congress.

Over years we built two wooden boats from scratch and repaired 5 other big ones. It was the inspiration for my computer science career, how to make things over long periods of time.

And my mother who taught me how to love and be loved.

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

Integrity, accountability, team player, communication, an ability to explain, compromise, build consensus, and a commitment to using the tools of the position to benefit the needs of the many.

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

Representing constituents, creating and passing legislation, and conducting oversight of the executive branch and the spending of the money authorized.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Let it be said I moved leave no trace from Black Rock to Honolulu.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was age 17 as a volunteer on Democratic Congressman Abner Mikva's campaign. There were several recounts. He won by a few votes.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Every summer in high school I was a small boat catamaran sailing instructor and life guard on Lake Michigan.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand. and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, both are about diving down the rabbit hole with all talent blazing but the potential tragedy if you do not know whens to pull back.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Jean Luc Picard Star Trek Next Generation Captain

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have had so many blessings. I try not to put too much thought to struggles. I can remember being 11 years old at tennis tournaments in Illinois and cars riding by calling me the N word when I was on court. I guess I was lucky I got that old and that was the first time. It is a challenge to figure out what it means to be a black man in America. It haunts me. I feel my ancestor's pain.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Unlike the Senate with staggered member replacement, it is supposed to be a draconian flip of all members every 2 years which in theory should make it the most responsive to the people body of government (for legislation and how much money is raised and how it is spent).

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Enough seasoning to know what they are doing but not so much that they are unwilling to embrace change and do new things. A healthy influx of those outside government keeps the tree refreshed.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Capitalism is great up to the point that it runs into limits to natural resources. Figuring out we modify the inspiring messages of unbridled pursuit of self interest, freedom, liberty, to one that listens to the feedback loop that we are running out of fish, not just be driven by the price of the fish we net ... that is going to be a tough pill to swallow.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

The House was designed to completely flip every 2 years. Implicit was that there would be a lot of changeover. Career politicians have turned it into something else.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Henry Clay seems relevant. Diffusing sectional crises skills are what the country needs. And I love Nancy Pelosi.

Both sitting representatives 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 woman who I had seen before but didn't know, she was about to lose her three children begged me for help. I had never had anyone make a plea like that to me. I said yes with the qualifier that I didn't know what she had done or not done and I certainly can't say whether my involvement will get you the outcome you want. She agreed. I can't put words to the state she was in. It was lucky, I was able to fix the problem. I was just me. No time to think but she was right the people involved didn't treat me like they treated her and they were not my children. I didn't know the family. I was left with the thought, if I am me can I help others? Should I?

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

Mostly yes. Sometimes no. Implement plans, rules, or courses of action to address specific issues or achieve particular goals -- if Russia points misses in Cuba aimed at the mainland, maybe we compromise to get them to remove them, maybe we don't. I want leave no trace of human footprint in Oahu seawater. 20,000 or so microorganisms per liter. I am not a big fan of saying the compromise, it is OK for the runoff of 11,300 cesspools is OK to be in there too.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

There are 20 committees in the House and each has 5 subcommittees. Only 4 committees are revenue main focused. There is a limit that I could be on 2 committees and 4 subcommittees max. Waivers are common. So I may or may not be involved in planning legislation for taxation. Of course as a general legislative duty I would be responsible to vote on bills that would

Beyond committees, I would serve constituents by handling casework, communicating with them and government agencies, and representing my district's interests. Some of that at any time could involve taxation.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The House cannot investigate "for the sake of exposure" alone or to punish political rivals. I like its role in bipartisan data gathering to create future or adjust current legislation.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Ka'imi Nicholson who runs a popular women's shelter in Honolulu

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

A story from a US military officer stationed in Iraq. He met with an enemy soldier twice a week for a year with his gun upholstered. He was a trained killer. He had to be ready to kill everyone at the table at all times if their behavior warranted it. It is a story kind of hard to forget. Go in there and be nice but if ... many other US military Hawaii personnel have shared similar readiness training they have had when deployed.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I got an exemplary leadership award from the Hearst Corporation for digitizing their entire SF Chronicle operations end to end. 15 months of nights where I went to bed only because my brain wasn't functioning anymore. Many managers took vacations. I did not. I worked on faith that the teams 14 unions and management could get the deliverables done and somehow we did. I got to run the show for awhile because no one wanted to take the fall. I was too stupid to play it that way.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Scrap the Electoral College. Enact same day and automatic voter registration.

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