Lingle quiet about
mailing before GOP
convention

POIPU, Kauai -- Linda Lingle, who several times during her gubernatorial bid complained of being the victim of dirty tricks, had one pulled on her during her successful run to lead the state Republican Party. This time, she kept quiet.

A few days before the 411 convention delegates gathered here, each received in the mail a copy of a story from the Honolulu Weekly, the left-leaning publication that Republicans love to hate, that was highly critical of Lingle and how she funneled some of her campaign funds. There was no indication as to who sent it out.

Using the logic her campaign manager, Bob Awana, applied when they cried foul last year -- who stood to benefit -- the only candidate contesting Lingle was asked if he was behind the anonymous mailing.

"No way! That's not my style," replied the GOP's former Oahu County chairman, James Kuroiwa Jr. If he had mailed it out, it would have carried his name, he said.

Kuroiwa said he and then-party Chairwoman Donna Alcantara tried to uncover the culprit. They were unsuccessful, Kuroiwa said.

Why didn't Lingle open her mouth? Perhaps the answer can be found in the keynote speech that Jim Nicholson, the head of the Republican National Committee, gave to delegates. He said Republicans must be united and obey President Reagan's 11th Commandment: Never speak ill of another Republican.