Carroll says isle GOP
shows Lingle favoritism

Both are former state Republican
leaders running for governor

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

Republican candidate for governor John Carroll is complaining that his primary election opponent, Linda Lingle, is getting more attention from the state GOP because she is the former party chairwoman.

Carroll, also a former party chairman, and his campaign co-chairman, Bill Crawley, said they had been promised by Lingle and the GOP's new chairman and executive director, Micah Kane, that Carroll would have equal access to party resources.

"We were told personally by party chair Micah Kane that we would have equal time in the newsletter and equal opportunities for any party mailings, but we have been completely ignored," Crawley said in a news release.

Kane said the news release was "the first I have heard of their concerns."

He added, "It is interesting that they had their concerns in a press release instead of coming to the executive committee."

Carroll also complained that there is a link to Lingle's Web site from the GOP Hawaii Web site, but nothing for his Web page. Kane said that the GOP would provide Carroll with an equal opportunity, but he had never asked for it.

Also complaining about Carroll's treatment was former GOP national committeeman Howard Chong.

"Lingle has blatantly manipulated the Republican Party's rules to thwart opposition to her candidacy," Chong said.

Kane said Carroll's campaign manager hasn't asked for any help from the GOP.