GOP convention
tone optimistic
Democrats' failure to revive economy
By Mike Yuen
leaves them beatable, say GOP leaders
Star-BulletinThe nearly 300 delegates and alternates to the Republican state convention opened their three-day parley on the Big Island today, convinced they can capitalize on majority Democrats' failure to revive the isles' laggard economy. The controversy over the state's and counties' ability to contract out public services to private firms and nonprofit agencies is only one part of larger issues of government efficiency and the need to improve the economy, said Maui Mayor Linda Crockett Lingle, who's considering a gubernatorial bid.
"It is obvious that the economy is not rebounding and that it is in serious trouble," said Lingle, pointing to the administration's recent announcement that tax-revenue collections for last month fell 11 percent. "It'll take leadership to get the economy back on track."
Privatization, Lingle added, should be available to government so it can provide more cost-effective service.
Former U.S. Rep. Patricia Saiki, who ran for governor in 1994, asserted that Gov. Ben Cayetano's administration hasn't shown that it has long-term solutions for reviving the economy."I see quick fixes attempted, but no hope for growing the economy," added Saiki, who isn't attending the convention because of personal obligations.
Cayetano is pinning his hopes for an economic turnaround on an upsurge in tourism and on borrowing $1 billion to accelerate public-works projects during the next two fiscal years.
GOP leaders, including outgoing state party Chairwoman Jane Tatibouet, also expect this year's convention to help lay the groundwork for further Republican gains in "grass-roots" legislative and municipal races next year. They are convinced they can elect a Republican U.S. representative and Lingle as governor, although the state has never had a neighbor island mayor as chief executive.
The GOP's bright spot has been the state House, where Republicans hold 12 seats, eight more than in 1993.
Tatibouet hopes there will be at least 17 House Republicans after next year's election. Having 17 - one-third of the House members - would allow the GOP to pull bills from committee.
A Republican hasn't been governor since 1962. Nor has the state had a GOP congressional representative since Saiki left her House seat in 1990 to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. The GOP in recent years has never counted more than two of the four county mayors among the party faithful.
And while the state GOP claims 38,000 members, 9,000 more than isle Democrats, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Poll has found that registered voters throughout the state continue to identify with the Democratic Party over the GOP by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
Convention delegate Sam Slom, the freshman state senator from Kalama Valley, said he wants entrepreneurs to run for office so government is business-friendly.
"I've come to the conclusion that we've got to get people involved from outside the system," said Slom, a longtime small-business advocate. "We can't proceed by just doing rallies at the Capitol when (the Hawaii State Teachers Association union) can turn out 10,000; (union leader) Gary Rodrigues, 4,000; and when Hawaiians stay overnight at the state Capitol.
"I'm going to encourage business to commit to the 1998 election."
Lingle said there needs to be a different attitude in government, one that understands that time has a tremendous value to business. It benefits business, the economy and the state when businesses spend the least amount of time dealing with government, she added.
Jim Kuroiwa Jr., the GOP Honolulu County chairman, said he is convinced that Hawaii voters, who last year ousted three of the state Senate's most powerful committee chairmen and nearly kicked out Senate President Norman Mizuguchi (D, Aiea) and House Speaker Joe Souki (D, Wailuku), remain frustrated with the Democratic-controlled establishment.
Republicans need to harness that public restlessness, Kuroiwa said. "Although (legislators) said they had a good session, they did not address all of the issues: privatization and the biggie, the economy," he added.
Tomorrow, convention delegates will elect new party officers. So far, Donna Alcantara, a former college admissions director who twice ran unsuccessfully for the state House, is uncontested in her campaign to succeed Tatibouet as party chairwoman. State party rules permit floor nominations.
A number of Republicans said they expect two-term state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa (R, Nuuanu) to announce his campaign to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Honolulu.
"Neil is definitely vulnerable," said Saiki, who considered challenging Abercrombie but decided not to.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, who represents rural Oahu and the neighbor islands, is also beatable, Saiki added.
