Political File
News, notes and anecdotes on government and politics
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Baptiste announces bid for second term as mayor
LIHUE » Kauai County Mayor Bryan Baptiste has announced he is seeking a second four-year term in office.
Baptiste announced his bid for re-election Tuesday night during his 50th-birthday celebration at the Kauai Veterans Center.
"We have much to celebrate, but there is so much left to do," Baptiste said.
The mayor said he is seeking another term because "I want to continue to make a difference for the people of Kauai."
Tommy Contrades, a union official with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, was introduced as Baptiste's campaign co-chairman. The other co-chairman is to be named later.
Baptiste won his first term as mayor in 2002 after serving on the Kauai County Council.
As mayor, Baptiste has championed the building of more affordable housing, put together programs to fight drug abuse and supported legislation to protect public access.
Fellow former Councilman Jesse Fukushima is the only other candidate to publicly announce intentions to run for mayor in 2006.
Government relations manager sought at UH
With only a few months before the Legislature resumes in January, the University of Hawaii is looking for a new government relations manager.
Former state Rep. David Morihara, who has held the job since October 2001, is retiring at the end of November, after 15 years of state government service.
Morihara, a Democrat, served 10 years in the state House from 1990 until 2000, representing Upcountry Maui. After leaving the Legislature, he was also a public utilities commissioner and technology adviser to Gov. Ben Cayetano.
His salary last year was $113,928.
Morihara said he will be helping with his family's restaurant, Sekiya in Kaimuki, and is mulling other possible jobs in the private sector.
UH Vice President for External Affairs and University Relations Carolyn Tanaka said she is hoping to hire someone before the Legislature starts. The application period ended earlier this month.
The job entails managing and working with a team of people who track legislation that affects the university.
The salary range is anywhere between $48,636 to $123,396, depending on experience.
The university is seeking a boost of $187 million in construction money and $41.5 million in state general funds from the Legislature in the upcoming supplemental budget.
Most of the construction money would go to repairing aging facilities. The university is also seeking $6 million for a state scholarship fund and a change in the law to give campus security officers arrest powers.