Mike Gabbard

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Mike Gabbard
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 20th district
Assumed office
2006
Personal details
Born Gerald Michael Gabbard
(1948-01-15) January 15, 1948 (age 76)
Fagatogo, American Samoa
Political party Democrat (2007–present), Republican (1970–2007)
Spouse(s) Carol
Profession Hawaii state senator
Religion Roman Catholic[1]

Gerald Michael "Mike" Gabbard (born January 15, 1948) is a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate, representing the 19th District since 2006. He has social conservative political views and rose to prominence for his successful effort to pass an amendment to the Constitution of Hawaii in 1998 to give the state legislature "the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples".[citation needed] He is also a businessman and musician.

Gabbard, who was born in American Samoa, is the first person of Samoan descent to serve in the Hawaii Senate.[2]

Senator Mike and Carol Gabbard 2015

Life and pre-political career

Mike was the fourth of seven children born to Benjamin Harrison Gabbard, Jr. and Agnes Yandall Gabbard. He graduated from Choctawhatchee High School class of 1965 in Shalimar, Florida. He received his BA degree in English from Sonoma State University, and his master's degree in Adult Education with an emphasis in Community College Administration from Oregon State University.[citation needed] He and his wife Carol, who served from 2000 to 2004 on the Hawai'i State Board of Education, are the parents of five children and grandparents of six. They operate a small family business with several lines of natural health products. They also make and distribute Hawaiian Toffee Treasures.[citation needed]

In 1995, Mike Gabbard co-founded the nonprofit Stop Promoting Homosexuality America,[3] which filed for the trade name Alliance For Traditional Marriage, "to educate the general public about the necessity of preserving traditional marriage".[4] Gabbard served as president[5] until the organization's involuntary dissolution in 2004.[6]

Political career and related activities

Gabbard was elected to the Honolulu City Council in a nonpartisan race in 2002. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully in a race as a Republican for the Second Congressional District of Hawaii in the United States House of Representatives.

On March 21, 2006, Gabbard announced his plans to run for the Hawaii State Senate in West Oahu's District #19, a seat then held by 14-year incumbent Senator Brian Kanno. Kanno then decided not to run for reelection.[7] On November 7, 2006, Gabbard defeated retired Honolulu police captain George Yamamoto by a 56% to 44% margin to represent the district in the Hawaii State Senate. Gabbard was sworn in on January 17, 2007.[8]

Mike is the co-founder/chairman of Stand Up For America (SUFA), a non-profit educational organization that promotes patriotism and aims to "increase our awareness of our identity as citizens of one nation under God."[9] SUFA maintained public Christmas lights displays in 2004[10] and in 2006[11] that specifically celebrated the Christian origins of Christmas, "as a reminder of what the Christmas season is really all about."[10] The Stand Up For America site came under criticism in September 2010 for promoting Gabbard's daughter's campaign for the Honolulu City Council, and immediately removed the problematic page and link.[12]

Mike founded and is also the co-chairman of Healthy Hawai'i Coalition (HHC), a non-profit group whose twofold purpose is to protect the environment and to improve individual and community health. HHC has been very active in schools across the state of Hawai'i teaching watershed protection. In 2007, he co-founded the Aloha Parenting Project (APP) with his wife Carol. APP is a grassroots non-profit organization that educates, supports, and helps parents raise children to become responsible, productive members of our community.[citation needed] SUFA hosted John Rosemond at an APP event on November 6, 2007.[13]

On August 30, 2007, Gabbard switched from the Republican Party of Hawaii to the Democratic Party of Hawaii. His stated reason for doing so was that he believed that he could be more effective to his constituents as part of the majority party in the State Senate, where Democrats have long had a supermajority.[14] This switch in parties has been of some controversy, including repeated complaints regarding his opposition to the Democratic Party of Hawai'i's platform, and possible actions that may impact other Democrats.

On November 2, 2010, Gabbard was re-elected for a second term in the Hawai'i State Senate after defeating Republican Aaron Bonar by a 74% to 26% margin.[citation needed] He is currently the Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee. He's also a member of the Judiciary & Labor, Transportation & International Affairs, and Education committees.[citation needed]

As of June 2011, Gabbard was still against same-sex marriage and civil unions.[15]

Mike and Carol's eldest daughter, Tulsi Gabbard, is a Democrat and the Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district.[16]

On November 6, 2012, Gabbard defeated Republican candidate, Dean Capelouto, to represent the newly reapportioned district, Hawaii State Senate District 20, by a margin of 72% to 28%.

References

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External links

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