State AFL-CIO
backs Thronas for
Kauai mayor

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

The Hawaii State AFL-CIO has endorsed Kauai County Council Chairwoman Mary Thronas in her bid for mayor of the Garden Island.

Representatives of the 54 unions in the state federation met last week to consider endorsements for candidates in the September primary election.

The group earlier endorsed Gov. Ben Cayetano in his bid for re-election, and several other congressional and legislative incumbents. The recent endorsements included:

For state Senate: Rosalyn Baker (D, West Maui, Molokai, Lanai), Avery Chumbley (D, East Maui, North Kauai), Rod Tam (D, Downtown, Nuuanu), David Ige (D, Pearlridge, Pacific Palisades), Randy Iwase (D, Mililani, Waipio Gentry), and Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa, North Shore).

For state House of Representatives: David Tarnas (D, South Kohala, North Kona), Robert Nakasone (D, Kahului, Wailuki, Waikapu), David Morihara (D, Puunene-Kula), Bertha Kawakami (D, Koloa, Waimea, Niihau), Calvin Say (D, Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Kaimuki), Scott Saiki (D, McCully, Moiliili, Pawaa), Jun Abinsay (D, Moanalua, Kalihi Waena, Kapalama), Romy Cachola (D, Kalihi Kai, Palama), Mark Takai (D, Waimalu, Waiau, Newtown), Marilyn Lee (D, Mililani, Waipio).

Also, Ron Menor (D, Wheeler, Mililani), Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village), Paul Oshiro (D, Ewa Beach, Waipahu), Maeda Timson (D, Kunia, Makakilo, Ewa, Waipahu), Michael Kahikina (D, Barbers Point, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae), Merwyn Jones (D, Makaha, Waianae), Alexander Santiago (D, Schofield Barracks, Mokuleia-Kahuku), D. Ululani Beirne (D, Laie-Heeia Kea), Iris Catalani (D, Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, Kaneohe), Ken Ito (D, Kaneohe).

For Honolulu City Council, the unions endorsed Tom Pico, who is challenging Windward district incumbent Steve Holmes.

They also endorsed Honolulu Council incumbents John Henry Felix, Duke Bainum, Jon Yoshimura, Donna Kim, Mufi Hannemann and John DeSoto.

They endorsed Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd for Hawaii County Council; Dennis Nakamura, Riki Hokama and Patrick Kawano for Maui County Council; and Mike Victorino for a Maui district seat on the state Board of Education.