WHEN it comes time to measure the contenders for governor, the Legislature will be one of the tailors. It is a relationship often ignored or tossed off to "just politics," but it would help us learn how these folks get along. Legislative gains
will help CayetanoHow the Legislature treats the various aspirants should probably be of more concern, because dealing with the lawmakers is job one for the governor.
As Gov. Ben Cayetano found out in 1995, no matter how much you complain, no matter how much you pretend not to hear the yelps and baying from January to May, the Legislature will be with you.
If you make your case for cabinet members or for a number of proposals or even the budget, and then walk away you will be sorry. If you think the brillance of your argument will carry the day, then you will govern in disappointment.
That is why, of the three possible candidates -- Cayetano, Mayor Jeremy Harris and Maui Mayor Linda Lingle -- Cayetano has traveled the farthest in his relationship.
To the Legislature, Cayetano's leadership style appeared frigid, especially after the high-touch, wheeler-dealer approach that won accolades for former Gov. John Waihee.
Cayetano was, in fact, much like the man who was governor when Cayetano served in the Legislature, George Ariyoshi. But, while Ariyoshi distanced himself from the Legislature, Cayetano showed almost a distaste for it.
Since then Cayetano has loosened up and become more involved with the process. Although he has not offered up a package of bills winning unanimous support, and even though he faced the embarrassment of having the Legislature toss out his hastily offered revenue projections, Cayetano succeeded in bringing home some major campaign pluses from this legislative session.
The most notable is the $1 billion fund for state construction. While the idea wasn't new, having first been offered up in his Economic Development Department's 1995 blueprints for financial recovery, it is catchy enough to be seen again and again when Cayetano runs for re-election.
For the Legislature itself, if it has any sense at all, it is a sense of smell for candidates for governor. So when Jeremy Harris came calling, the Legislature was already on high alert.
Harris and the other county executives were handed their own test when the Legislature wanted to cut county funding by taking away the hotel room tax. City officials say Harris was able to enlist the support of the council of neighborhood board presidents to lobby the Legislature.
HARRIS has discovered that the neighborhood board meetings provide him with a natural on-going grass-roots opportunity. It was a revelation not lost on either the Legislature or Cayetano.
As county executives succeeded in keeping their state tax money, Maui Republican Linda Lingle explored the possibility of a public backlash against public workers. The Supreme Court's anti-privatization ruling forced her and other county leaders to lobby for continuation of many vital municipal services. Luring the Hula Bowl to Maui, however, will probably give the GOP contender more mileage.
In sum, Cayetano saw gains in legislative accomplishment that should pay off next year, Harris avoided several nasty confrontations, while Lingle made the most of not being from Oahu.