84% here unhappy
with the economy

That may help the
GOP and Linda Lingle

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

EDUCATION is the key issue for Maile Carr, a Volcano resident and teacher at Kau High School on the Big Island.

She sees a direct connection between the state of the economy and the state of Hawaii's public schools.

"It (the economy) affects everything else," Carr said. "It affects the education budget. My husband did not get his raise. He works for the county. Our budget at the school gets cut every year."

Carr, born and raised on the Big Island, almost always votes for Democrats -- until this year. "I intend to vote Republican," she said. "I'm tired of the job they (Democrats) are doing. I just think we need a change."

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin/NBC Hawaii News 8 poll shows 84 percent of respondents are not satisfied with the economy.

That dissatisfaction appears to be helping Republicans and gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle.

Of those who are not satisfied with the economy, half believe Republican Lingle and the Republican Party can do a better job of improving the economy.

Only 22 percent believe Gov. Ben Cayetano would do the most to help the economy. And just 27 percent believe Democrats can do the best job in making changes to improve Hawaii's economy.

About 12 percent of respondents believe former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi would do the most for the economy.

"Traditionally, the Republicans do a better job with the economy," Carr said.

"They (Republicans) have never had a chance, have they? I want to see what they do."

Of the 15 percent who are satisfied with the economy, more than half believe Cayetano would do a better job than Lingle.

Lifelong Democrat Ruth Galloway, of Laupahoehoe, Hawaii, is one of about 44 percent of the Democrats surveyed who believe their party can do a better job with the economy than Republicans can.

"I think he (Cayetano) should be given another four years because to me four years is a little too short," she said.

Whoever holds the governor's office, most people believe, will have a big effect on the economy.

"I certainly think the governor has an impact toward improving the economy," said Jean Hohns, a Republican who said she will vote for Lingle.

Democrat Carr is not as certain.

"The governor may have great ideas, but unless the Legislature goes along with it, nothing happens," she said.

The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc. of Columbia, Md. The company interviewed 417 registered voters by telephone Aug. 4-7. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.