Bronster's ouster:

Bronster says
estate inquiry
will continue

She says that she lost to powerful
foes -- Bishop Estate trustees
'who know how to
manipulate the Legislature'

Political fallout

Readers have their say

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

As Attorney General Margery Bronster prepares to leave the office she's held for the last four years, she says she hopes people will not be discouraged by the Senate's rejection of her nomination for a second term.

"There are a lot of people who have expressed frustration," Bronster said. "There are a lot of people who have said maybe we should just give up, and to them I say no. Don't do it, because I took this job because I wanted to make a difference and I didn't lose the job for nothing. I hope other people will step in and continue to make a difference."

No matter who is selected to replace her, Bronster said the Bishop Estate investigation will continue.

"I think its pretty clear that the investigation cannot stop," Bronster said. "The IRS's recent interest, I think, means that whoever is attorney general is going to have to see this through."

She said she hopes that her successor will follow through with the gasoline anti-trust lawsuit and other efforts she started.

She said she is not sure if what she's gone through will discourage others from applying for the job.

At a press conference yesterday in front of her office on Queen Street, Bronster wore leis given by supporters. Staffers gathered at windows overlooking the courtyard to watch her and someone yelled out, "Margery, wooo," from a passing car.

"You asked me earlier what kind of reaction, I've gotten," she said. "I went out to lunch with some of my staff, we didn't get very far through lunch without being greeted by well-wishers."

Asked about what accomplishments she wants to be remembered for, Bronster replied: "Doing the right thing."

She does not believe the Senate did the right thing Wednesday by voting against her reappointment as attorney general, and blamed Bishop Estate trustees Henry Peters and Richard Wong for her defeat.

"I believe that it had to do with the fact that I took on some very powerful opponents, people who have previously been in the Legislature and who certainly know how to manipulate the Legislature a whole lot better than I ever could," she said.

Asked about her failings, Bronster said she might have done a better job communicating with other departments and said there were internal decisions and issues that she would have liked to have resolved quicker.

She expects to work through the weekend and clean out her desk on Tuesday, then she's taking some time off to reflect on her future. She said she would not take another job in the Cayetano administration.

But when asked about running for public office in the future, Bronster said, "I am going to rule out making any predictions as to what I'm going to do in my future. As I said I need to get through this. I need to take some time to think about it and then I'll be talking to you if you're still interested."

Political fallout

Readers have their say

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