Ex-Dem Tajiri
likely to run on
GOP ticket for
Big Island mayor

He has been an unofficial
candidate for months

By Rod Thompson
Big Island correspondent

HILO -- Former Democratic legislator Harvey Tajiri was expected to formally announce his candidacy for Big Island mayor as a Republican today.

A recognized, if unofficial, candidate for months, Tajiri advised the news media Friday that he would "announce his future plans" today. He declined to comment until then.

Jim Rath, a Republican member of the state House of Representatives from Kona, said Tajiri became a Republican "some months ago."

"He didn't leave the Democratic Party so much as the Democratic Party left him," Rath said. He blamed Democrats for high taxes and a nine-year economic slump in Hawaii.

Rath said Tajiri is basically conservative.

Tajiri's candidacy could set up a three-way race between himself, Green Party candidate Keiko Bonk and the Democratic nominee.

The Big Island is the only county that continues to have partisan mayoral elections. Whoever gets more votes than the other candidates will win, even though the total may be less than 50 percent.

That could boost the chances of Bonk, whose Green Party has had difficulty winning elections except in the Puna-Kau-Kona district.

Bonk calls for creating environmental research jobs, continuing but not expanding astronomy on Mauna Kea, and better planning to preserve agricultural lands.

Making a strong bid for the Democratic nomination is emergency room physician Fred Holschuh. Holschuh says he wants to foster the health of Big Island residents physically, mentally and economically.

Never elected to public office, Holschuh says he is the most "unconnected" candidate.

But Bonk lists Democratic Party regulars Hiroshi "Scrub" Tanaka and the governor's Big Island representative Butch Castro as among those supporting Holschuh.

Holschuh responds, "There will be no political paybacks."

Also a declared Democratic candidate is Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong, who has frequently opposed party regulars on matters such as eucalyptus plantations on government lands in Hamakua.

Other Democrats mentioned as possibilities: Former Mayor Lorraine Inouye, who says her candidacy is "a possibility," and Rep. Jerry Chang, state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf, and former Rep. Virginia Isbell, who were unavailable for comment.

Marijuana and hemp advocate Jonathan Adler is running as a nonpartisan.