Education
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.
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Joe Bertram
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A Democrat, he represented 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 left office in January 2011.
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, Republican
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.
He is Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive.
Achievements
Membership
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.
