CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Democrat Ed Case and his wife, Audrey, spoke to Republican Linda Lingle at a forum at Lanakila Senior Center yesterday.
Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates say they would not drop funding for two big senior citizen centers, like Gov. Ben Cayetano tried to do earlier this year. Candidates support
2 GOP candidates miss forum
seniors’ funding
Clinton to aid isle DemsBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
Cayetano had initially removed from the budget the $230,000 needed to keep the programs at Moiliili and Lanakila Senior centers going but then restored it through 2004.
[ ELECTION 2002 ] At a campaign rally at Lanakila center yesterday, the four major candidates for governor all said they would continue the funding if elected. But Democratic candidate Rep. Ed Case cautioned that he wasn't making any firm promises.
"I would try as hard as I can to maintain the funding for these senior centers," Case said.
"But, I haven't promised or committed funding to anything during my campaign. I don't think that is responsible in light of our current budget crisis to lock in any funding."
"For any candidate to say 'I will absolutely fund any program' reflects total avoidance of the situation or total pandering to voters," Case said.
"I am not going to do that any more than I am not going to rule out categorically reductions to any other programs or employees," he added.
Other candidates, however, were strong in their support of the senior programs that take care of more than 5,000 healthy seniors.
"These programs are like a church and you don't phase out churches, it is part of a senior's life, we will find the money," said Democrat D.G. "Andy" Anderson.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono also pledged to continue the state support, noting that she had lobbied Cayetano to continue funding.
"Part of what we need to do is keeping our seniors independent, it is part of the continuum of services for seniors," Hirono said.
Republican Linda Lingle said she would not cut the funds and was troubled that Cayetano had first dropped the state support and then restored it.
"The state has to be able to say what its priorities are and this should be one of them," Lingle said.
"The state shouldn't be giving funding and then taking funding away, it is a horrible way to run an operation and it makes the people who need these services very uneasy," Lingle said.
Stella Wong, executive director of Catholic Charities Senior Services, which runs the programs at the two facilities, said they offer health and nutrition classes and also cultural groups at the centers.
The Lanakila Center has 2,800 registered seniors who come every morning for classes and meetings, she said. Budget cuts have forced the facilities to close for two of the four Saturdays during the month.
State Office of Elections
