WASHINGTON - This month's congressional elections gave Rep. Neil Abercrombie more than a convincing re-election win. They gave him more company as one of the very few members of Congress who identify their religion as "unspecified." Abercrombie
does not list
his religionBefore the election, the Honolulu Democrat was one of only five lawmakers here who declined to specify a religion in official congressional guides. The others were: Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.; Rep. John Olver, D-Mass.; and Rep. Esteban Torres, D-Calif., who was not re-elected.
The election added three new "unspecifieds" - Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo.; and Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. - to the ranks, according to profiles published by Congressional Quarterly.
Abercrombie said his religious beliefs were his own business. "You live your beliefs," he said. "People can determine who you are."
GOP TEAM While the majority Democrats in the state House and Senate have yet to organize, the 12-member House GOP caucus has. Senior Republican Barbara Marumoto (Waialae Iki), a House member since 1978, was selected minority leader.
The rest of the lineup: David Pendleton (Kailua), minority floor leader; Galen Fox (Waikiki), minority whip; Colleen Meyer (Kahaluu), assistant minority leader; and Cynthia Thielen (Kailua) and Paul Whalen (Kailua-Kona), assistant minority floor leaders. Chris Halford (Kihei) continues as minority policy leader.
INOUYE'S WIN WASHINGTON - Folks in Hawaii tend to think of Democrat Daniel Inouye as invincible. Now, that impression might be going nationwide.
The isles' senior senator scored the biggest landslide in the Senate this year, coasting to a seventh six-year term by winning 79 percent of the vote. The next biggest winner was Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., with 72 percent.
By Star-Bulletin staff