Jason Masters

Hawaiʻi County Council District 6 - Ka'u

Candidate Questionnaire Status: RESPONDED

Jason Masters completed the HAA Election Center 2026 Candidate Survey and provided an additional written comment regarding stray dogs, abandoned animals, and animal control needs in Council District 6.

His response shows strong support for humane treatment, prevention, spay/neuter access, One Health, public accountability, and community partnership. HAA rates him as Partially Aligned because he selected Moderate Role, rather than Major Role, for managed community cat programs.

Voter Education Notice: HAA’s Election Center, Candidate Summary, candidate snapshots, and candidate pages are provided for issue-based voter education. They are based on candidate survey responses, follow-up clarification when provided, and HAA’s assessment of alignment with humane, accountable managed cat policy. They are not formal single-candidate endorsements and should not be represented as such.

1.  HAA Candidate Snapshot

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2.  HAA Assessment

Managed Cat Policy Alignment: Partially Aligned

Jason Masters’ survey response demonstrates meaningful support for humane, prevention-oriented animal policy. He rated humane treatment and the One Health perspective as Extremely Important, generally favors prevention while supporting targeted enforcement, strongly supports expanded access to low-cost or free spay/neuter services, strongly agrees that government-funded programs should demonstrate measurable outcomes and public accountability, and believes community organizations and volunteers should play a Major Role in helping address county challenges.

HAA rates Masters as Partially Aligned because his response is supportive in several key areas, but less clear on the central managed-cat policy question. He indicated that he is Familiar with Trap-Neuter-Return and other humane community cat management programs, but selected Moderate Role, rather than Major Role, for managed community cat programs in Hawaiʻi County.

This distinction matters because HAA’s Coexistence Framework is built on moving Hawaiʻi County away from unmanaged cat populations and toward structured, humane, accountable management. Managed community cat programs are not the entire solution, but they are a core part of effective cat population management when paired with spay/neuter access, responsible caretakers, adoption pathways, public accountability, and protections for sensitive wildlife areas.

HAA views Masters’ response as promising but incomplete. His answers show support for humane treatment, prevention, spay/neuter access, One Health, accountability, and community partnership. However, additional clarification is needed to understand whether he supports managed community cat programs as a major part of Hawaiʻi County’s approach, including TNR/TNRM where appropriate, and whether he supports the broader HAA Coexistence Framework.

Masters’ additional comment focused on abandoned and stray dogs in Council District 6 and the need to develop an animal control shelter in Kaʻū / South Kona and actively recruit Animal Control Officers for Council District 6. This shows concern for local animal management and public safety capacity, though it does not directly clarify his position on managed community cat programs.

HAA Takeaway

Jason Masters supports humane treatment, prevention, spay/neuter access, One Health, accountability, and community partnership, but more clarification is needed on support for managed community cat programs and the Coexistence Framework.

Overall assessment: Partially Aligned — Needs clarification on managed cat policy.

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3.  Candidate Survey Response

The following presents the HAA Candidate Survey questions in their original order and wording. 
Formatting has been standardized for readability.
The substance of the candidate’s responses has not been changed.

2026 Hawaiʻi County Council Candidate Survey

SECTION 1 - Leadership & Decision-Making

This section is intended to help voters better understand how you approach leadership, public service, and complex policy decisions.

Question 1.  When evaluating a complex public policy issue, which of the following factors do you typically consider?

Candidate selections

✔ Constituent concerns
☐ Scientific evidence and research
☐ Recommendations from government agencies
☐ Fiscal responsibility and cost effectiveness
✔ Long-term outcomes
☐ Public health and safety
☐ Environmental impacts
☐ Fairness to affected stakeholders
☐ Legal considerations
✔ Practical implementation and enforcement
☐ Community partnerships and volunteer involvement

Candidate comment

“Different types of policy issues may require considering different factors."

 

Question 2.  When evaluating different viewpoints on a public issue, which of the following approaches do you typically find helpful?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

✔ Meet with affected residents
☐ Meet with subject-matter experts
☐ Review scientific research
☐ Request information from government agencies
✔ Hold community meetings
☐ Seek balanced solutions that consider multiple perspectives
✔ Visit affected locations firsthand
☐ Evaluate costs and budget impacts
☐ Review measurable outcomes from similar programs
☐ Consult nonprofit and community organizations

Comment (optional)

 

Question 3.  Which of the following qualities do you believe contribute to effective public policy?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

☐ Compassion
☐ Scientific evidence
☐ Fiscal responsibility
✔ Accountability
☐ Transparency
☐ Prevention
☐ Enforcement
☐ Collaboration
☐ Long-term thinking
✔ Community input
✔ Environmental stewardship
☐ Public health
☐ Practical results

Comment (optional)

 

Question 4.  When facing a difficult issue where there is no perfect solution, what approaches do you generally find most helpful?

Please select the three choices that best reflect your perspective.

Candidate selections

☐ Focus on immediate concerns
✔ Focus on long-term outcomes
☐ Follow existing policies and procedures
☐ Seek additional information and evidence
✔ Consult affected stakeholders
☐ Consider unintended consequences
✔ Seek balanced solutions among competing interests
☐ Start with a small pilot project and evaluate results
☐ Prioritize practical implementation
☐ Reassess and adjust based on outcomes

Comment (optional):

 

SECTION 2 - Humane Animal Management & Community Well-Being

This section is intended to help voters better understand your perspectives regarding animal management and related community issues.

Question 5.  How important is humane treatment when developing county animal policies?

✔ Extremely Important
☐ Very Important
☐ Moderately Important
☐ Slightly Important
☐ Not Important

Comment (optional)

 

Question 6.  Which statement best reflects your approach to addressing community challenges?

☐ Strongly favor prevention and education
✔ Generally favor prevention while supporting targeted enforcement
☐ Equal emphasis on prevention and enforcement
☐ Generally favor enforcement
☐ Strongly favor enforcement

Comment (optional)

 

Question 7.  Do you support expanded access to low-cost or free spay/neuter services?

✔ Strongly Support
☐ Support
☐ Neutral / Unsure
☐ Oppose
☐ Strongly Oppose

Comment (optional)

 

Question 8.  How familiar are you with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and other humane community cat management programs?

☐ Very Familiar
✔ Familiar
☐ Somewhat Familiar
☐ Limited Familiarity
☐ Not Familiar

Comment (optional)

 

Question 9.  What role should managed community cat programs play in Hawaiʻi County?

☐ Major Role
✔ Moderate Role
☐ Limited Role
☐ No Role
☐ Unsure

Comment (optional)

 

SECTION 3 - Public Health, Accountability & Community Partnerships

This section is intended to help voters better understand how these issues fit within broader community priorities.

Question 10.  Human health, animal health, and environmental health are interconnected. How important should this perspective be when evaluating public policy?

✔ Extremely Important
☐ Very Important
☐ Moderately Important
☐ Slightly Important
☐ Not Important

Comment (optional)

 

Question 11.  Government-funded programs should demonstrate measurable outcomes and public accountability.

✔ Strongly Agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neutral
☐ Disagree
☐ Strongly Disagree

Comment (optional)

 

Question 12. What role should community organizations and volunteers play in helping address county challenges?

✔ Major Role
☐ Moderate Role
☐ Limited Role
☐ No Role
☐ Unsure

Comment (optional)

 

Additional Comments (please note Question # if adding to your response above)

“One significant issue impacting Hawaii County Council District 6 are stray dogs, especially hunting dogs that have been illegally dumped or abandoned.  We need to develop an Animal Control shelter in Ka'u / South Kona and actively recruit Animal Control Officers for Council District 6. 

 

 

 

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4.  Candidate Information

Candidate: Jason Masters
Office: Hawaiʻi County Council
District: District 6
Campaign website: ElectJasonMasters.com & IG: electjasonmasters & FB: Elect Jason Masters
Campaign email: [email protected]
Campaign telephone: 808.480.8059