Editorials
Friday, August 23, 1996

Women's organization
peruses the candidates

AMIDST the endorsements now flowing out of labor unions and government employee associations come the purposeful picks of the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus (HWPC). On Wednesday, in front of the Queen Liliuokalani statue at the state Capitol, HWPC announced the incumbents and candidates it will support in the 1996 elections based on replies to a questionnaire. The organization has anointed incumbent Jeremy Harris for mayor, Peter Carlisle for prosecuting attorney, as well as 10 female and 14 male candidates running for state House and Senate.

To arrive at its decision, the group looked at candidate responses to five issues that are presumably important to women. Respondents to HWPC's questionnaires were asked to agree or disagree with the following opinions:

I support the right to privacy, as stated in the Hawaii Constitution in choosing an abortion.

I support affirmative action programs for women and underrepresented ethnic groups.

I would support legislation to mandate statewide school programs that are aimed at the prevention of sexual assault and woman battering.

I do not support legislation of a constitutional amendment that would limit the civil rights of gays and lesbians to marry.

I do not support the reduction of the safety net of health-care coverage for poor women (including pregnant women), children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Women candidates receiving the HWPC nod were Carol Fukunaga, Suzanne Chun-Oakland and Jackie Young in the Senate, and Mina Morita, Barbara Marumoto, Pam Ferguson-Brey, Marilyn Lee, Annelle Amaral, Iris Ikeda Catalani and Cynthia Thielen in the House.

Naturally, not only women can be supportive of women's issues. Also winning the HWPC's endorsement were Andy Levin, Brian Taniguchi, Norman Mizuguchi, Rey Graulty and Matt Matsunaga in the Senate, and Jerry Chang, Eric Hamakawa, David Tarnas, Chris Halford, Mark Forman, Len Pepper, Roy Takumi, Nestor Garcia and Devon Nekoba in the House.

It's true that the opinions of the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus do not represent all of the women in the state. However, if the public wants to know how some candidates feel about issues of concern to a united contingent of female voters, the HWPC slate of endorsements is one place to start.


Barbers Point airport

REACTION was resoundingly negative at a four-hour hearing in Kapolei regarding a general aviation airport at the present Barbers Point Naval Air Station. It was to be expected. Residents of Makakilo and Kapolei naturally would prefer a massive sports and recreational complex to be located nearby. But Oahu's best interests would be served by maintaining the runway as a reliever airport for light airplanes.


Herb Cornuelle

HE was a giant in the community, not only for his business acumen and public service but for how he conducted himself - with integrity and humility. Herbert Cornuelle's death at age 76 from cancer brings to mind the immense amount of good that can be accomplished in one person's lifetime.

See story:
[Isle business giant Herb Cornuelle]



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