Will Espero

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Will Espero (born November 6, 1960) is an American politician who has served as a state senator for the 19th district of the State of Hawai?i since 2002. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Video Will Espero

Early life and education

Born on November 6, 1960, at a United States naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, Espero is the son of Victor and Paulina Espero. Originally from Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, Victor served in the United States Navy for 21 years while his wife, Paulina, originally from Santiago, Ilocus Sur, Philippines, retires as a licensed practical nurse. As entrepreneurs, Victor and Paulina also operated a restaurant, catering service, and carehomes.

Growing up in a military family, Espero lived in Vallejo, California, Jacksonville, Florida, Athens, Georgia, Norfolk, Virginia, Oak Harbor, Washington, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Naples, Italy, and Yokosuka, Japan.

Espero attended Seattle University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 1982. Later that year, he moved to Hawai?i and established a home. He worked in the finance and banking industry, property management, local home development, and the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai?i. A few years later in 1987, he entered politics, working with former mayor Frank Fasi and his administration as the Executive Secretary of the City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission.

Maps Will Espero

Political career

From 1987 to 1994, Will Espero was an appointee of Mayor Frank Fasi. He was the executive secretary of the Neighborhood Commission in charge of Oahu's Neighborhood Boards.

In December 1999, Espero was appointed to the Hawai?i State House of Representatives by Governor Ben Cayetano to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of then-representative Paul Oshiro. In 2002, he ran a successful campaign and was elected into the Hawai?i State Senate. He represented District 20, which stretched from lower Waipahu to ?Ewa Beach, where Espero resides. After the reapportionment of Hawai?i's districts, Espero became the senator for District 19 which now includes 'Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, 'Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, and a portion of 'Ewa Villages.

Espero is currently the Vice President of the Hawai?i Senate. He formerly served as the Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PGM). He was a member of both the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs (TIA) and Ways and Means (WAM).

Leadership positions

Serving the West side of O?ahu as State Senator, 2000-present
Chairman: Senate Housing Committee 2016 - present
Vice President, 2015-2016
Majority Floor Leader, 2010-2015; 2017 to present
Chair, Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, 2010-2015
Co-Chair, Transportation and International Affairs

Legislation introduced

Act 094, SLH 2002 (main sponsor) - Hawai?i's version of Kelsey's Law
Act 101, SLH 2012 (main sponsor) - creates opportunities for space tourism in Hawai?i
Act 235, SLH 2012 (main sponsor) - appropriates funds for an advisory group for Honouliuli Camp Site, a World War 2 internment camp on Oahu, Hawai?i
Act 070, SLH 2011 (main sponsor) - designates Gold Star Family plates to the family members of fallen soldiers
Act 125, SLH 2011 (main sponsor) - requires persons convicted of violation of privacy in 1st degree & all persons convicted of promoting prostitution in 1st degree to register as sex offenders
Act 027, SLH 2010 (main sponsor) - requires Office of Veterans Services to ensure the burial & inurnment of veteran's remains who is without immediate surviving family members
Act 165, SLH 2010 (co-sponsor) - establishes the crime of intentionally or knowingly taking of a Hawaiian monk seal as a Class C felony
Act 160, SLH 2009 (co-sponsor) - clarifies animal cruelty law by prohibiting the confinements & restraining of a pet animal in a cruel or inhumane manner
Act 133, SLH 2008 (co-sponsor) - creates new misdemeanor offense of harassment by impersonation
Act 164, SLH 2008 (main sponsor) - allows the Hawai?i teacher standards board to suspend a teacher's license when the teacher has been convicted of sexual offenses & to initiate proceedings to permanently revoke their license
Act 127, SLH 2005 (main sponsor) - designates the path from Halawa landing to Waipahu as the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail

Community involvement

'Ewa Beach Boys and Girls Club, Board of Directors
Friends of the 'Ewa Beach Library, Founder and president
Friends of the Hawai?i State Art Museum, Board of Directors
Mele Murals and Estria Foundation, Advisor
Operation Homefront of Hawai?i, Board member
Re-entry Collaborative Population Management, Board member
State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision, Board member
West Oahu Economic Development Association, Founder and board member
Workforce Development Council, Board member
Clean and Sober Homes and Halfway House Task Force, Member
Government Contracting Task Force, Member
'Ewa Beach Lions Club, Member
'Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund, Member
Steering Committee of the Hawai?i Justice Reinvestment Initiative, Member
Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee, Member
Correction Population Management Commission
'Ewa Beach Community Association
'Ewa by Gentry Community Association
'Ewa Neighborhood Board
Hawai?i Fashion Month
Hawai?i Impaired Driving Task Force
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision
Oahu Filipino Jaycees
Oahu Going Home - Reintegration of Ex-Offenders
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Knights of Columbus

Awards

Civil Air Patrol, Certificate of Appreciation
'Ewa Beach Lions Club, Distinguished Service Award
Kanu O Ka'aina, Certificate of Appreciation
Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, Certificate of Appreciation
'Olelo Community Media, Certificate of Appreciation
USS Ronald Reagan, Honorary Naval Aviator on Board

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U.S. House of Representatives 2014 election

On Sunday, July 21, 2013, Espero announced his candidacy campaign for the 1st Congressional District of Hawai?i, the seat current Hawai?i U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa will be vacating to run against Hawai?i U.S. Senator Brian Schatz.

Friends of Hanauma Bay - Page 2 of 14 - Protecting the natural ...

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References