Fasi says he’ll go for
GOP governor nomination

Veteran Hawaii political observers
doubt he'll have much
impact on the race

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi will not be a significant factor in next year's gubernatorial race, isle political veterans say.

They also feel he may be underestimating Maui Mayor Linda Lingle by challenging her for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Their reactions came after Fasi, 77, announced yesterday that he will be making his fifth gubernatorial bid.

It's an unofficial candidacy at this point, he said. If it were to be official, he would have to give up his free, four-times-a-week evening radio program on K-108 or pay for the air time.

Fasi predicted that there will be a contested Democratic primary next year, saying Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, 47, will challenge Gov. Ben Cayetano, 58.

Fasi, mayor for 22 years, said he has accomplished more than Lingle. Lingle, 44, should instead run for Congress or lieutenant governor, he suggested.

He also asserted Cayetano has been ineffective as governor because as a Democrat he must "kowtow" to labor unions.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Marilyn Bornhorst said Fasi will have "no impact. I think he's past the point where anyone takes him seriously."

Alluding to Fasi's party-switching in runs for governor as a Democrat, Republican, Independent Democrat and under the Best Party banner, Bornhorst added: "He's changed teams so many times. He's shown disloyalty so many times. He's been disloyal to every group in town."

The party-jumping by Fasi, who bolted from the GOP to launch a third-party bid for governor in 1994 after Republican leaders favored former U.S. Rep. Patricia Saiki as their nominee, also raises questions as to what he represents, Bornhorst said.

City Managing Director Robert Fishman, a senior adviser in Harris' two successful mayoral campaigns, said, "Frank Fasi may be underestimating Linda Lingle, which is not a good idea in any election.

"He may be trying to position the (Republican gubernatorial primary) as an Oahu vs. neighbor island campaign. But politics in Hawaii has changed dramatically from those days."

Under such a scenario, Fasi, as a longtime Oahu political figure, would seek to maximize his turnout in the county which has the most voters.

Fishman scoffed at Fasi's prediction that Harris will be in the gubernatorial race, saying Harris has yet to make up his mind.

Cayetano declined to comment on Fasi's candidacy. Last year, Cayetano appeared ready to end his hostility toward Fasi, who during the 1994 gubernatorial campaign accused him of accepting a bribe.

Cayetano conditionally accepted Fasi's offer to work as a $1-a-year aide.

But a job never materialized, although Fasi publicly declared he supported Cayetano's re-election.

Lingle and state Republican Party Chairwoman Donna Alcantara both welcomed Fasi's entry into the GOP primary.

"There will be such a clear choice in candidates -- our different styles, how we work cooperatively with people to find solutions," Lingle said. "People will recognize that."

Fasi's decision to rejoin the GOP shows he realizes that the Republican Party has the best chance to harness voter disenchantment with the Democrats' record, Alcantara said.