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THE HOT LEGISLATIVE RACES
With the primary election's rejection of Democratic Sen. Marshall Ige, the 24th Kaneohe-Kailua Senate district lost its incumbent, and the race for the Windward seat got a lot more interesting. Newcomers battle
for Ige’s seat"I didn't think I was going to beat the incumbent," said Solomon Naluai, the Democrat.
Republican Bob Hogue said until Ige was defeated, the biggest issue in the district was the incumbent.
"For the longest time, getting the incumbent out was what everyone was talking about," Hogue said.
"They said they wanted a state senator who was open and accessible," he said.
Hogue, a former television sports anchorman who is now a sports columnist and radio talk-show host, was actually trained as an accountant.
His family is from Hawaii. His grandfather, Peter McLachlan, immigrated to Hawaii from Scotland in 1920. Hogue was born in California, attended the University of Southern California and moved to Hawaii in 1988 as sports director for KHON-TV.
Along the way, he worked as an accountant for Price Waterhouse before deciding on a career in sports broadcasting.
Democrat Naluai had an equally varied career. He joined the Air Force at age 17 and became a draftsman and map maker.
After leaving the armed services, Naluai went to school, majoring in biology. The University of Utah offered him a research position while he was working on his master's degree.
Later, Naluai said he was encouraged to go into medicine. He went on to get a medical degree and returned to Hawaii, where he was a physician with Kaiser Permanente.
The pair are running dramatically different campaigns. Naluai is refusing to accept campaign donations and is going door-to-door, usually taking one of his grandchildren with him. He is designing his own brochures on his home computer.
"I am trying to keep it good and clean. People are offering me money, I say, 'I won't accept it,' " Naluai said.
In comparison, Hogue described himself as a traditional campaigner, with about $30,000 to spend. He's used it for brochures and two newspaper ads.
But, he added, "The most important thing is to go door to door and to be involved in the community."
Richard Borreca, Star-Bulletin
Bob Hogue (R) SENATE DISTRICT 24
Kaneohe, Enchanted Lake
Occupation: Radio talk show host; newspaper columnist
Background: Former accountant; former sports director for KHON-TV
Solomon Naluai (D)
Occupation: Retired physician
Background: Draftsman; medical researcher at University of Utah
Republicans are hoping to gain a seat in the 51st House District where there may be a close race, with incumbent Democrat Kenny Goodenow being challenged by Joe Gomes to represent the area that stretches from Waimanalo to Kailua. Foes have varied
views on educationGomes got 1,575 votes in the Republican primary, beating out former state representative Eve Anderson, who got 878 votes.
Meanwhile, incumbent Kenny Goodenow, who hopes to be elected for a third term, garnered 1,886 votes in the Democratic primary.
"Goodenow is going to have to work very hard to keep his seat," said Rep. Barbara Matsumoto, House Minority Leader.
But Wilson Kekoa Ho, Waimanalo Neighborhood Board chairman, said he told Gomes he would have to "really put out because Kenny's well loved.
"Kenny's done good for us," Ho said. "He has good support in Waimanalo. He's been active in every phase of the community."
Gomes moved into the district from town in March. The 40-year-old pointed out, however, that he was raised in Kailua.
Gomes would like to improve schools by providing more books, supplies and air conditioning. But at least initially, he would not support more funding for schools.
"There's a lot of money being spent on education," Gomes said. "Through efficiencies in government, we can get more for schools."
Goodenow said education is a priority and "we do not spend enough. Look at other states. We have a teacher shortage. We can't even attract teachers because of the pay."
On taxes, Gomes opposes any tax hikes for any purpose.
Goodenow said he would like to make Hawaii more business-friendly, so it would not discriminate against locally based businesses.
Gomes criticized Goodenow for being unresponsive to the people's needs, such as not having an abandoned truck removed from a city street.
But Goodenow said he's been successful in changing how government does business by making it more responsive to district concerns.
He said he brought the Department of Land and Natural Resources to Lanikai and worked with residents in developing coastal planning, playing a part in restoring its beaches.
Leila Fujimori, Star-Bulletin
Joe Gomes (R) HOUSE DISTRICT 51
Waimanalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai, Kailua, Enchanted Lake
Occupation: Lawyer
Background: Staff attorney for Senate MinorityKenny Goodenow (D)
Occupation: Legislator; law student
Background: Elected to state House in 1996; assistant majority floor leader
Starbulletin.com Election Results
State Office of Elections
