Keauhou mauka Kona coffee farmer Dave Bateman has announced he will run for the state House District 5 seat, representing Kona and Ka’u. Bateman pulled papers May 9 making his official entry into the House 5 race. Keauhou mauka Kona
Keauhou mauka Kona coffee farmer Dave Bateman has announced he will run for the state House District 5 seat, representing Kona and Ka‘u. Bateman pulled papers May 9 making his official entry into the House 5 race.
Bateman, a retired Air Force colonel (JAG), former assistant attorney general for Washington state and attorney in private practice for 30 years, owns the Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee farm, which he has operated for the past seven years.
“I believe that together we can move the Big Island forward and make a better West Hawaii for our children,” Bateman said, explaining his desire to work with the local community to improve education, increase employment, reduce the high cost of living and expand agriculture.
Bateman says as a coffee farmer he understands the needs of the mostly agricultural Kona and Ka‘u districts. He has already been involved in assisting the Legislature draft legislation impacting the coffee industry, as well as issues affecting veterans.
Bateman is president of the Kona Sunrise Rotary Club, a board member of the Kona Coffee Council and the Hawaii Coffee Association. He and his wife, Trudy, live on their farm in Keauhou mauka and have two grown children and two grandchildren.
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