Former senator to run for lieutenant governor
Former state Sen. Malama Solomon, a campaign co-chairwoman of Randy Iwase's gubernatorial campaign, announced yesterday she will run for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary election.
Solomon is the first recognized Democrat to announce for the second spot on the state ticket.
Although candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately during the primary election, the winners run as a team in the general election.
Before Solomon's announcement, Democrats had no candidate for lieutenant governor with any campaign experience.
Solomon, who served in the Senate and as a trustee in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, made her announcement in an e-mail sent to political reporters.
In the e-mail, Solomon noted that she is a strong political ally of Iwase, the former senator and city councilman who is running for governor.
"I am running for this office because I believe in the people of Hawaii," Solomon said. "I am also concerned, as is my good friend and colleague Randy Iwase, that the Lingle administration has been short on results and long on publicity."
Iwase welcomed Solomon's candidacy.
"She has been very active with us on the Big Island, and I am glad we have someone in the race who has a knowledge of state government," Iwase said.
Iwase said he and Solomon served as co-chairpersons of the Water and Land Use committee in the Senate and "share similar views on a number of issues."
Solomon, 55, served on the OHA board from 1980 to 1982 and the Senate from 1983 to 1998. She is a former University of Hawaii at Hilo affiliate professor and a Hawaiian studies teacher.