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Lingle: GOP
convention a showcase
for candidates

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

A Hawaii Republican Party that bears the stamp of party Chairwoman and former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle starts a three-day convention today at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The jokes about how the Hawaii GOP is reserving a cubicle at the Bishop Museum as an "endangered political party" are gone as Lingle has actively recruited much of the campaign organization left from her unsuccessful race for governor two years ago.

Lingle, a former mayor and councilwoman from Maui, wants to run again for governor in two years.

"The majority of the convention is people we have gotten involved (in GOP politics) since the governor's race," she said. "Certainly the majority are those who believe in the things we are thinking about."

The GOP already has registered 600 delegates for the convention at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is expecting up to 800.

The official business of the convention will be to adopt a platform, select 14 delegates and 14 alternates to the national convention this summer in Philadelphia and select a national committeeman and committeewoman.

But Lingle noted the real business will be getting Republicans elected this fall.

"It will be a showcase for our candidates; that is one of the major goals," she said.

State House GOP leader Barbara Marumoto said Lingle has brought in hundreds of new volunteers at a time when some of the party's old-time backers are not as active.

"Just from the numbers from last year's convention, I was impressed," Marumoto said.

"We are really optimistic about the elections," she said.

The convention will be designed, Lingle said, so all the delegates have a chance to meet the candidates. As in past conventions, there will be discussions on how to run and win campaigns.

Miriam Hellreich is expected to stay on as the national committeewoman, but Howard Chong, longtime GOP national committeeman, is stepping down.

He is expected to be replaced by Travis Thompson, who was the Maui County finance director when Lingle was mayor.