Private schools need state bond amendment
I am disappointed by this misleading statement made recently by Russell Okata, president of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, on a local television news show, concerning ballot question No. 2: "I don't think that the state of Hawaii should be a guarantor for any bond or loan by a private school." He must know that the state does not guarantee the bonds, and has no financial liability at all.He and Hawaii State Teachers Association President Karen Ginoza are opposing the best interests of children in Hawaii in urging people to vote against this amendment, despite the fact that 40 other states make such funding available to private schools with no negative effects on public education.
In a recent letter to the editor, Ginoza wrote, "We need to keep the focus on public schools because they serve the public good." Does she really believe that private schools don't serve the public good?
Before retiring as president of Punahou in 1994, I spent 44 years teaching and administering at all levels, from kindergarten through graduate school in both public and private schools. Both are important for our society. We need to support both for the common good.
Amendment No. 2 involves no public money, would help many of our 130 private schools renovate their facilities, would stimulate the construction industry and would not obligate the state in any manner. All schools and all children need our help -- a "yes" vote on No. 2.
Roderick F. McPhee
Retired president
Punahou School
Turn over the ballot and vote 'yes' on No. 1
Ballot question No. 1 would require candidates to be registered voters (and therefore residents) in their districts when they file to run for office. Oh, you thought this was already required? No. A series of legal opinions over the years has reduced the residency requirement to claiming to live in the district on the day of the general election. So, under the current law, if someone claims to be moving in on Election Day, he or she can still be a candidate. Pretty bad, eh?Candidates do use this loophole. This year, a state representative from Kaneohe is running for the City Council in Hawaii Kai. The same sort of thing has gone on in previous elections. We need to fix this.
There are many benefits to requiring residency. Most important, residency assures that candidates will have some experience with conditions and problems in the district. It reduces carpetbagging by opportunistic, big-budget candidates looking for an easy race. It allows local leaders like neighborhood board members to move up without facing professional politicians from other districts.
Remember, if you leave it blank, it counts as a no vote. So turn over the ballot and vote "yes" on question No. 1.
Larry Meacham
Common Cause Hawaii.
Dela Cruz doesn't back current BRT plan
When responding to one of the many surveys and candidate questionnaires I received during my campaign for City Council District 2, I wrestled with the Star-Bulletin's specific question regarding my support for Bus Rapid Transit.Based on my comment that affected landowners and businesses needed to be consulted to ensure the success of BRT, I have been counted among supporters of the proposal. This is not the case.
Although I support affordable, convenient and accessible alternatives to cars, I have major reservations about the inherent problems of BRT, such as exclusive use of nearly 32 miles of busy roadways.
Alternatively, I believe the hub-and-spoke concept has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of the bus system.
Everyone on Oahu would like to see traffic congestion and pollution reduced by a better public transportation system. But from what I have seen, BRT -- in its current form -- is not the answer.
Donovan Dela Cruz
Mailing defames Windward Republican
The Democratic Party sent out another false mailing yesterday, this time claiming that I voted against bills to repair and renovate our schools (HB 200, 2001; HB 14 Special Session 2001; HB 1800, 2002). This is absolutely false. I voted in favor of all three bills.Don't they have any respect for the truth? Or will they do anything to get their candidate elected?
I consistently have worked for funding for school repairs and new construction. I led the effort to get new playground equipment into our elementary schools. I worked with the Department of Education and Windward community leaders to get adequate textbooks into classrooms.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) consistently has supported me for my proven track record of supporting teachers and schools. The Windward voters know my record, and I believe they will throw this defamatory mailing where it belongs -- in the trash.
Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R
50th District (Kailua, Kaneohe Bay Drive)
Mailings distort truth about Pendleton
I have received numerous mailings from the Democratic Party slandering state Rep. David Pendleton. I understand similar mailings are being made against Republican candidates in other districts. I think it is shameful for the Democratic Party to engage in a smear campaign to try to win my vote.I am thankful that Pendleton took the time to contact me personally to discuss these mailings; their claims distorted the truth or were downright false. I appreciate Pendleton's dedication to my community, District 49. I believe my best interests have been and will be represented through his mature leadership, perseverance to listen to the people and take a stand to do what is right, not necessarily what is popular, and provide the good service that is required of this position.
Tracie Mackenzie
Kailua
Economy foundered under Democrats
Mazie Hirono would have us believe that economic turnaround is right around the corner. Well, it might be, but not in Hawaii!For the past eight years the Democrats have been saying that the economy is turning around. It hasn't. The Council on Revenues, which the state relies on for budgeting, has consistently downgraded its predictions year after year.
Hawaiian and Aloha airlines needed a special anti-trust exemption in order to survive. Were it not for the fact that this is an election year, the tax breaks recently passed would have been repealed by the Legislature.
Finally, there was the "Thumbs up Hawaii" campaign, the failed attempt to artificially stimulate the economy while the banks were investing outside of Hawaii. Do all these things sound like the economy is improving? Hirono needs to face the facts.
Gerald Martens
UH-West Oahu campus could boost economy
The University of Hawaii president and regents have an ambitious and justified strategy for transforming UH-Manoa into an elite academic and research institution.For the system-wide plans to be achieved, a four-year, open-admissions campus is necessary to meet the educational needs of the majority of Oahu high-school grads. That campus, UH-West Oahu, also could serve as the most important economic and community development project for Central through Leeward Oahu.
Hawaii cannot "grow" its way out of its economic troubles, but it can "think" its way out by providing higher educational opportunities to all who seek them. This is a reason to support the Hirono-Matsunaga team, which will fight to fund and build the new university beginning in 2003.
Richard Weigel
Aiea
Lingle's integrity will move Hawaii forward
Anyone listening to Linda Lingle talk can sense that she has integrity; she is honest, optimistic, caring and non-prejudiced. This woman actually believes in what she says. I can now see why Maui loved her so very much when she was their mayor.I asked her, "Is it your intention to raise Hawaii's economy?" She replied, "Yes!"
"In today's failing national economy?" I asked. She said that when Hawaii cleans up government practices, "We'll attract outsiders (businesses). I don't worry about matters out there. Can't be controlled. We need to deal with our problems first," she replied.
Someone else asked, "Will your cabinet include Demo-crats?"
"I look for people with integrity and work performance. This is me. I'm not into party affiliation," she answered.
She's not a politician, but a stateswoman.
Hawaii, I'm convinced she won't disappoint us. Please join me in electing Linda Lingle as our next governor of Hawaii.
Mikio Izuka
Mililani
Lingle stands with Bush Republicans
Vision? You want to talk about vision?I have this very disturbing vision of a newly elected Governor Lingle as she marches off to Washington with other Republican governors in support of President Bush's misplaced war initiatives and ultra-conservative Supreme Court nominees.
I'm a "Case Democrat," but I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with Mazie Hirono when I cast my vote on Tuesday.
Jerome M. Comcowich
Negative campaigning can backfire
I am greatly disappointed by the gubernatorial campaign ads being run by the Democratic Party. I've been voting Democratic all my life. However, the recent ad campaign bashing Linda Lingle is disturbing and hypocritical to say the least.Instead of campaigning on their own candidate's strengths, contributions and experience, Democrats produce TV ads that distort truth and bash the Republican opponent. I'm not trying to justify any improprieties that allegedly exist or occurred during Lingle's tenure as Maui mayor. But it seems hypocritical to question anyone's integrity, honesty or dignity when prominent Democrats are linked to corruption and misuse of power.
If this is how Mazie Hirono and her supporters campaign, it indicates lack of a confidence and desperate measures being taken to win at any cost. I was undecided, but after seeing the onslaught of negative advertising by the Democrats, I'm voting for Lingle. Republicans deserve the opportunity, even if it comes down to the lesser of two evils.
Spike Nishii
Waipahu
Democrats champion Hawaiian rights
Linda Lingle, Duke Aiona and the Republican Party have suggested that Democrats are not really committed to Hawaiian rights. A commercial run by Aiona states that the Democratic Party's attitude toward federal recognition legislation is "if can, can, if no can, no can."This is a bold claim by Aiona when it is the Democrats who have led the charge for Hawaiian rights and recognition. It was the Democrats who established the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Homes. It was the Democrats at the federal level who crafted and passed, among others, the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act. It was the Democrats who pushed Congress to pass the federal recognition legislation of Hawaiians as a native people of this country.
Based upon actions and not words, it is the Democrats and only the Democrats who will ensure the passage of federal recognition legislation for Hawaiians.
Andre Soto
Hirono, Matsunaga stand for opportunity
I will be voting for Mazie Hirono and Matt Matsunaga, not for their party affiliation, but for what they stand for.They typify what the Democratic Party stands for: equality, inclusion, opportunity, liberty and justice for all.
Hirono's outer persona belies her inner toughness. She has the intelligence, experience and strength of a leader. Together with Matt Matsunaga -- an honest, hard-working, experienced and intelligent state senator raised by a father who paved the way for other Asian Americans in the highest realms of politics and who fought for equality and for Hawaii's statehood -- I can think of no better team.
Keevan K. Matsumoto
Democrats' criticism is hypocritical
I am so tired of all the hypocritical propaganda being flung across the airwaves and through the mail. Why does the Democratic Party hold Linda Lingle to a different standard from its members? It accuses Lingle of corruption when three of its own are serving time behind bars, whines about her mainland contributions despite Sen. Daniel Inouye receiving most of his money from outside Hawaii, then rails about her environmental record while Inouye and Sen. Daniel Akaka vote in favor of Arctic drilling.Now Lingle is even responsible for the crime rate on Maui, as if Oahu's crime rate is anything to be proud of. I'm non-partisan, but with all of this rubbish being strewn about, who wants to be part of the puppet party? It can count me out.
A.K. Carroll
Kailua
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