Lingle scores
women’s, hotel
endorsements

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Maui Mayor Linda Lingle says Gov. Ben Cayetano's new television commercial is an attempt to duck responsibility for leading the state with an ailing economy.

The commercial features a series of people asking whether Lingle, a Republican candidate for governor, thinks they "are stupid."

"I have never tried to blame him for the value of the yen or the Asian economy," Lingle said. "But he has to take responsibility for what were really bad decisions and bad ideas over the last four years.

"When you are the leader, you have to take responsibility when things don't get better."

Cayetano, however, in response, said Lingle has never taken responsibility for accusing the Cayetano campaign of spreading rumors about her.

"I think it's a legitimate spot. People might not like the manner in which it is depicted, but it's fair in the sense that the facts are accurate and the point we're making is a legitimate one," Cayetano said.

"She and her campaign have never admitted that they were wrong and (they) have never apologized. I think those kinds of actions need to be brought forth to the community because it's an indication of a lack of character, if you will, which is important for any leader to have, especially one who wants to lead the state as governor," he said.

In other action, Lingle yesterday was endorsed by several Republican women's organizations, who said they had heard both Lingle and her primary opponent, former Mayor Frank Fasi.

The organizations included the Hawaii State Federation of Republican Women, the Oahu League of Republican Women and the Hawaii Young Republicans.

Lingle also received the endorsement of the Hawaii Hotel Association, which noted that she had opposed raising hotel taxes.

Cayetano this week also received the endorsement of the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association.