Senate GOP newcomer Sam Slom gives a
thumbs-up to motorists on Kalanianaole
Highway yesterday. He defeated incumbent
Donna Ikeda in a huge election night upset.
Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Election results pushed the GOP numbers from nine to 14 in the 76-member state Legislature.

Hawaii voters may also have set the early tone for the gubernatorial election two years away. By their balloting Tuesday, they cast Gov. Ben Cayetano as a loser, even though he wasn't running for any office this year.

While Cayetano gave his blessings to mayoral challenger Arnold Morgado and city prosecutor hopeful David Arakawa, voters spurned the endorsements and re-elected Mayor Jeremy Harris and elected former Deputy Prosecutor Peter Carlisle as prosecutor.

Political insiders, lobbyists and legislators say those are two inescapable conclusions from this year's elections.

Several incumbent Democratic state lawmakers said the elections means that the public has put the Legislature on probation. They said they must show themselves to be more responsive to the public if they are to avoid the fate of three of the most powerful Senate chairmen - Judiciary's Rey Graulty, Consumer Protection's Milton Holt, and Ways and Means' Donna Ikeda - and Senate Republican leader Michael Liu, all of whom were ousted in the primary and general elections.

The public wants results, not finger-pointing, they say.

One result has been feelers from the Senate to the House to have both chambers be more collaborative.

Changes could also begin when Senate Democrats reorganize to determine chairmanships and committee assignments for next year's session.

In the past, the Senate president would dole out assignments as a reward to supporters, said Sen. Matt Matsunaga (D, Palolo). Now, reformers are pushing the possibility of having committee chairmanships selected by a popular vote in the majority caucus, he said.

In the House, a group of young Democratic reformers have started meetings to work on possible leadership changes because they are concerned that the GOP's ability to increase their representation in the 51-member chamber from seven to 12 signals voter dissatisfaction with the ruling Democratic organization headed by Speaker Joe Souki (D, Wailuku).

Rep. Nestor Garcia (D, Waikele), said yesterday concern over the GOP victories in the House intensified the discussions. Garcia declined to say specifically what the group wanted. But he warned: "Souki's selection as speaker of the House isn't a slam dunk."

Garcia said the 39-member Democratic majority is divided into at least two factions, which raises the possibility that selecting leaders to run the House could be a drawn-out affair.

Others speculate that Souki will be able to retain the speakership if he agrees to change his leadership style, at times characterized as "iron-fisted."

State GOP Chairwoman Jane Tatibouet said it was important that House Republicans were able to grab 12 seats - one more than necessary - because that allows the minority to force roll call votes to get each majority member's position on record.

In addition to the losses by Morgado and Arakawa, the perception of Gov. Cayetano as the political equivalent of a 98-pound weakling has been enhanced by the inability of Cayetano's political operative, Charles Toguchi, who's also the governor's chief of staff, to help knock off House Judiciary Chairman Terrance Tom (D, Kaneohe). Tom angered Cayetano by killing a bill that would allow the state to run legal advertisements in publications other than Honolulu's two daily newspapers.

The opposition to Tom, one of Souki's key lieutenants, struck many as odd since the House has been more of an ally with the administration than the Senate. Also, despite much effort, Cayetano's political operatives weren't able to have retired Judge Walter Heen selected as chairman of the Hawaii Democratic Party.

Many believe that Mayor Harris emerged as the big winner from Tuesday's election, well positioned to challenge Cayetano in a Democratic primary in two years if he chooses to do so.

Even the GOP's Tatibouet said she senses Cayetano's vulnerability at this early stage. It is possible that Cayetano could face two tough electoral fights in 1998 - one in the primary and another in the general election, she said.

Lobbyist Linda Rosehill said she believes Harris, 46, won't challenge Cayetano, who'll be 57 in a week.

"He's smart. He's young," Rosehill said of Harris. "He knows if he does a good job as mayor (in a full four-year term) that people will have no qualms in supporting him for higher races."

Others, however, believe that unions, most of which endorsed Harris, will push Harris into challenging Cayetano.