By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Vicky Cayetano, left, gets a welcome to the Democratic
Party yesterday from David Matthews.
Vicky Cayetano joins Democrats
By Mike Yuen
Star-BulletinTwo-and-a-half months after her marriage, first lady Vicky Cayetano has another thing to share with Gov. Ben Cayetano: party affiliation. She abandoned the Republican Party and signed a Democratic card Monday.
The first lady intended to give Democratic officials her party card at a luncheon yesterday, but she left her $100 check for membership in the Democratic Century Club in her car.
So she was to turn both over today, she said.
Because of GOP rules, she could not campaign for her husband, who's up for re-election next year, if she remained a Republican, Vicky Cayetano said.
"I've never put too much emphasis on party affiliation. I think there are good ideas that we can get from all sides," she added.
The first lady, also the president and chief executive officer of United Laundry Services Inc., said she believes that in the Democratic Party "there's more compassion, more understanding for the public in general, and not to be so one-sided for business."
State Republican Chairwoman Donna Alcantara said Vicky Cayetano's party switch was expected.
"I totally understand why she would do this. She's in love with her husband. I would not expect her to do anything less than to join her husband and be a team with him. That's what you expect from a first lady."
