Joe Bertram
Encyclopedia
Joe Bertram III is an American
politician from the Hawaii
an island of Maui
, currently serving as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
. A Democrat
, he represents the 11th district in south Maui, which includes the communities of Wailea-Makena
and Kihei
, his hometown. He was a candidate for reelection in 2010 but lost the general election to Republican nominee George R. Fontaine. He will leave office in January 2011.
Bertram moved to Hawaii at the age of nine and attended Kihei Elementary School, Seabury Hall
in Makawao
and Henry Perrine Baldwin High School in Wailuku
.
A former member of the Green Party of Hawaii
, Bertram ran unsuccessfully for the Maui County Council three times before mounting a campaign for the state legislature in 2006. In the primary election held on September 23, Bertram defeated fellow Democrat Stephen West by 61% to 39%. In the general election held November 7, he overcame the Republican
nominee by a margin of 60% to 40% − a majority of 1,046 votes. He succeeded a Republican, Rep. Chris Halford, who had retired. Running for a second term in 2008, Bertram faced a primary challenge from Michael Gingerich but defeated him comfortably, taking 70% of the vote. He faced a Republican in the general election, defeating him by 57% to 43%.
In 2010, he faced both primary and general election opponents. In the Democratic primary election held on September 18, he defeated two opponents, garnering 44 percent of the vote. The second-placed finisher gained 28%. In the general election held on November 2, he was narrowly defeated by Republican nominee George Fontaine. Fontaine won 51.5% to Bertram's 48.5% – a margin of 172 votes.
Bertram is openly gay and lives with his partner of 25 years, Albert Morairty. He is HIV positive. Bertram is one of two openly LGBT
members of the Hawaii State Legislature, alongside House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro
(D-Honolulu).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, currently serving as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
Hawaii House of Representatives
The Hawaii House of Representatives is the lower house of the Hawaii State Legislature. Accord to Article III, Section 3 of the Hawaii Constitution, amended during the 1978 constitutional convention, the House of Representatives consists of 51 members representing an equal amount of districts...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he represents the 11th district in south Maui, which includes the communities of Wailea-Makena
Wailea-Makena, Hawaii
Wailea-Makena is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 5,671 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wailea-Makena is located at ....
and Kihei
Kihei, Hawaii
Kīhei is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 16,749 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kīhei is located at ....
, his hometown. He was a candidate for reelection in 2010 but lost the general election to Republican nominee George R. Fontaine. He will leave office in January 2011.
Bertram moved to Hawaii at the age of nine and attended Kihei Elementary School, Seabury Hall
Seabury Hall
Seabury Hall is a private college-preparatory school in Makawao, and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1964 and serves middle and high school students. Seabury Hall has been designated as a Department of Education Blue Ribbon School. The Seabury mascot is the Spartan and...
in Makawao
Makawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
and Henry Perrine Baldwin High School in Wailuku
Wailuku, Hawaii
Wailuku is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 12,296 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Maui County.Wailuku is located just west of Kahului, at the mouth of the Īao Valley...
.
A former member of the Green Party of Hawaii
Green Party of Hawaii
The Hawaii Green Party is the official organization of the Green Party of the United States in the state of Hawaii.The HGP qualified for the ballot in May 1992, one of the earliest state Green Parties to do so....
, Bertram ran unsuccessfully for the Maui County Council three times before mounting a campaign for the state legislature in 2006. In the primary election held on September 23, Bertram defeated fellow Democrat Stephen West by 61% to 39%. In the general election held November 7, he overcame the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee by a margin of 60% to 40% − a majority of 1,046 votes. He succeeded a Republican, Rep. Chris Halford, who had retired. Running for a second term in 2008, Bertram faced a primary challenge from Michael Gingerich but defeated him comfortably, taking 70% of the vote. He faced a Republican in the general election, defeating him by 57% to 43%.
In 2010, he faced both primary and general election opponents. In the Democratic primary election held on September 18, he defeated two opponents, garnering 44 percent of the vote. The second-placed finisher gained 28%. In the general election held on November 2, he was narrowly defeated by Republican nominee George Fontaine. Fontaine won 51.5% to Bertram's 48.5% – a margin of 172 votes.
Bertram is openly gay and lives with his partner of 25 years, Albert Morairty. He is HIV positive. Bertram is one of two openly LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
members of the Hawaii State Legislature, alongside House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro
Blake Oshiro
Blake Oshiro is an American politician, currently serving as Majority Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives. He represents District 33, comprising the Honolulu neighborhoods of Aiea and Halawa...
(D-Honolulu).