MY long memory tells me Hawaii Republicans this year may offer us their strongest potential governor since now-federal Judge Samuel P. King lost in 1970. It can be Maui Mayor Linda Lingle if she survives her September nomination fight with former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi. He's my age, 77, and too old for four rough years. Linda Lingle could be
strong contenderKing, part-Hawaiian, quit a seat on the family court to run in 1970, thinking Gov. John A. Burns would not be running for a third term. King's father, the late Samuel W. King, had been both territorial governor (1953-57) and delegate to Congress (1935-42). The elder King also was president of the 1950 convention that wrote the original state constitution.
The younger King was close enough to his father in these things to see government as an insider. Just as he since has been a good federal judge and "Broken Trust" activist for reform of Bishop Estate, he would have been a good governor.
Between 1970 and 1998 the GOP offered us Randolph Crossley in 1974, John Leopold in 1978, D.G. (Andy) Anderson in 1982 and 1986, Fred Hemmings in 1990 and Patricia Saiki in 1994.
Crossley later ran an old-time Hawaii corporation into the ground. Leopold, a flash in the pan, left the state soon after losing. Anderson was politically experienced. Ditto Saiki. But Anderson was erratic -- for example, opposing Frank Fasi one year, allied with him another. Saiki didn't show that essential campaign quality -- fire in the belly. Hemmings had budget thoughts that still make sense but never sold himself to the public.
Lingle has plenty of fire in the belly. She is one of the most articulate politicians this side of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. When first elected Maui mayor she was only 37 and knew she had a lot to learn, even after 10 years on the County Council. She lined up a core of new/old advisers, among them a top-level Boeing aircraft executive retired on Maui, whom she had never previously met. She told him she wanted his management know-how, not his political participation. She would decide what could get at least five votes from the Democratic-dominated nine-member Council.
My hunch is that as a Republican governor with a Legislature sure to remain Democrat-controlled she would attack downsizing government in a similar way. I admire Governor Cayetano for his toughness and honesty but suspect Lingle would be a better salesman.
Our sinking economy makes it easier for Lingle to argue for change. She has the best GOP chance since our first and last Republican state governor, Bill Quinn, failed to win re-election in 1962.
Lingle's fight is uphill. Her base, Maui County, has only a tenth of the state's voters. On election eve our still-tattered Republicans won't be able to match the traditional Democratic gather-round to support the top of the ticket. It's worth several thousand votes.
Gender? There are women mayors on Maui and Kauai now. Honolulu had a woman mayor between Fasi terms. So did the Big Island.
Malihini? Lingle's 18 years of Council and mayor service soften that.
Can't beat the unions? She won all her elections by attracting union members, yet few top leaders.
LINGLE'S need is to display her record and talents far more widely. She mostly makes converts when she does.
So far no terrible skeletons have been hauled out of her closet. She is twice divorced and gave her second husband a Maui county job. She has been called to account for these but seen no need to apologize.
She has a strong sense of ethics. Stay tuned.