Is Hawaii finally moving Republican?

Human Events, Sep 30, 2002 by Gizzi, John

To the surprise of just about no one, former Maui Mayor and 1998 gubernatorial nominee Linda Lingle again won the Republican nod for governor of Hawaii September 21, in the nation's last primary of the year. If there was any element of surprise, it was the margin of Lingle's win. She pulled just over 88% of the vote against John Carroll, a former state senator, onetime U.S. House nominee, and a fixture in the Aloha State GOP since the 1960s. This was in striking contrast to '98, when Lingle had to go through a draining primary race against former Honolulu Mayor and Democrat-turned-Republican Frank Fasi before she won the GOP standard.

In addition, Lingle this year got her desired lieutenant governor running mate: native Hawaiian James (Duke) Mona, a retired jurist with a strong "law and order background." Aiona will face Democratic State Sen. Matt Matsunaga, son of late Democratic U.S. Sen. (1976-90) Spark M. Matsunaga.

The Democratic picture this year also presents a striking contrast to that of '98; when incumbent Gov. Ben Cayetano was renominated by Democrats with little opposition. This time, Democrats had a rancorous three-- way nomination battle. By a slim margin, the winner was Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono. Hirono became a candidate earlier this year only after Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, the man long-considered the certain Democratic choice to succeed the termed-out Cayetano, abruptly abandoned the race amid mounting newspaper reports of corruption within City Hall.

Days after the two major parties tapped their candidates for governor, Hirono surprised pundits and some supporters by ducking two forums at which Lingle was also scheduled to appear. Hirono's cancellation of appearances at both the Building Industry Association and the Tax Foundation forums were signs, Lingle said, that the Democratic hopeful did not want to debate her.

So far, Lingle has raised $3 million to Hirono's $1 million and the Republican campaign is distributing a 28-page booklet spelling out just what she would do to revive Hawaii's moribund economy. The GOP nominee recalled how in losing by a razor-thin (and still widely disputed) margin to Cayetano in 1998, "the Democrats did a really good job of criticizing me for not having a plan and the media went along with that." Whatever the fairness of those charges, Lingle has put them behind her in '02.

(http://www.lindalingle.com) Linda Lingle Campaign Committee, PO. Box 25111, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825; 808-440-9600)

Also in Hawaii: Rarely is any media attention paid to Hawaii's two U.S. House districts. Indeed, in its 43 years of statehood, the Aloha State has sent only one Republican-Patricia Sai, who served from 1986-90 - to the U.S. House. But this year, there's an unusual amount of interest in the 2nd District currently represented by liberal Democrat Patsy Mink. Now 74, Mink has been in the Straub Hospital and Clinic since August 30, when she was hospitalized after contracting viral pneumonia from a case of the chickenpox. Since then, according to the Associated Press, Mink's office "has provided few details Qn [her] medical condition, beyond saying she was in serious condition and recovering."

After years of taking a pass on the 2nd District, Hawaii Republicans have come up with a first-rate candidate in ten-year State Rep. Bob McDermott

Mr. Gizzi, political editor of HUMAN EVEN, welcomes political intelligence from subscribers on campaigns and issues at the local and state level. Though he cannot reply to all corespondents, we appreciate your contributions.

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