Editorials
Tuesday, May 26, 1998

Harris’ announcement
gives Cayetano a boost

DEMOCRATS should be feeling better after emerging from a state convention that saw Jeremy Harris pledge his support to Ben Cayetano in his bid for a second term as governor. With Cayetano's popularity at dismal levels in public opinion polls, the last thing the Democrats needed was a divisive primary battle for the key office on the ballot.

As he has many times in the past, Senator Inouye stepped in and in a recent meeting apparently persuaded Harris to stay on as mayor for the sake of the party. Or at least Harris was content to let it look that way even if he intended to back out all along. In any case, the mayor's announcement was the highlight of the convention, giving him the spotlight if only to make his gesture of party unity. Inouye's strong public endorsement of Cayetano was also important.

The only fight at the convention was over the party chairmanship, and the outcome may also help the Democrats. Walter Heen's victory over Tom Gill appeared to be a choice of moderation over liberalism. Gill, the former lieutenant governor and member of the U.S. House of Representatives who unsuccessfully challenged the late Jack Burns for party leadership back in the 1960s, was rebuffed again after decades out of the political spotlight.

Recently Gill has been active in the cause of same-sex marriage, a political hot potato. Coincidentally, Heen, filling in on the state Supreme Court, dissented from the court's decision supporting same-sex marriage. Although party chairmen customarily work behind the scenes, this issue is so emotion-filled that the choice of Heen over Gill may influence some voters.

Heen has an even longer history in public office than Gill, having served in the Legislature, on the Honolulu City Council and as a judge. He is a centrist, a position that may be more appropriate for a party that recognizes it has to find a way to reconnect with mainstream voters.

The last two people in the party chairmanship, Richard Port and Marilyn Bornhorst, are identified with the party's liberal wing and used their positions to advance the liberal agenda.

Cayetano seemed to turn toward the center when he formed his Economic Revitalization Task Force, comprised primarily of business executives. Their recommendations were aimed at improving the business climate, to some extent at the expense of liberal policies.

Cayetano must have been embarrassed when Bornhorst came out in opposition to the task force proposals to raise the general excise tax and abolish the Land Use Commission, which he had endorsed along with the rest of the recommendations.

Heen is not likely to repeat such behavior. His election, along with Harris' endorsement, made it a rewarding convention and a satisfying weekend for the governor.

Hong Kong vote

WHEN Britain handed over Hong Kong to China last July 1, Beijing immediately dissolved the legislature elected under British rule and substituted an appointed one, stocked with pro-China people, on a temporary basis. Now the first legislative elections in Hong Kong since the transfer have been held, and the results are encouraging for supporters of democracy.

Pro-democracy parties won 60 percent of the popular vote. This translated into only 20 seats in the 60-seat legislature because most seats were reserved for voting blocs of corporate executives and professionals friendly to Beijing. Still, democratic leaders took the results as a vote of confidence and vowed to continue their struggle to strengthen and expand democracy.

Thanks to the restrictions imposed on most of the seats to keep them in the hands of the pro-Beijing establishment, the governor, Tung Chee-hwa, is assured of cooperation from the legislature. But the pro-democracy opposition will have substantial -- and no doubt highly vocal -- representation.

The most prominent leader, Martin Lee, will head the largest single party in the legislature with 13 seats. He commented that the results send the message that "our people want and deserve democracy."

Thus far China has refrained from a crackdown on Hong Kong's freedoms, in keeping with Beijing's hands-off pledge under the transfer agreement. No interference with the legislative elections has been reported. The test will be whether Tung will maintain his policy of tolerance when the opposition's criticism becomes annoying, as it undoubtedly will.

Aala Park occupants

RESPONDING to our May 19 editorial on the improvement of Aala Park, a letter writer commented that our solution to the question of where the homeless should go "seems to consist of only a mean-spirited 'Away!' " Not so.

When former Mayor Frank Fasi cleared out the camp of hundreds of homeless persons who formerly blighted Aala Park, we urged the city to make all reasonable efforts to provide shelters and other services. We also supported the state program of building villages for homeless families.

The relatively few homeless people who still inhabit Aala Park should be provided for as well -- with treatment for their illnesses and addictions as well as shelter. But they don't belong in the park. They should leave and let the people of the neighborhood, who have been denied use of the park for years, reclaim it.

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