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Six of the youngest members of the state Legislature -- as well as two others from the under-40 age group -- collectively filed nomination papers to run for office this fall. Dems under 40
file as a group
for LegislatureTouting themselves as the "new guard" at the state Capitol, these Democrats are all in their thirties -- except for state Rep. Brian Schatz (D, Makiki), age 27.
"As long as we stick together, this group can change the way the Legislature does its business," said Schatz, who after his first term insists he's no longer a rookie lawmaker.
The group filed papers last week in the lieutenant governor's office. They are state Reps. Sylvia Luke (Nuuanu), Iris Ikeda Catalani (Ahuimanu), Scott Saiki (McCully), Eric Hamakawa (Hilo), K. Mark Takai (Pearl City) and Schatz, as well as candidates Kelly Zane and Blake Oshiro.
Zane is running for the Hawaii Kai seat of state Rep. David Stegmaier (D, Hawaii Kai), who is moving to the mainland to take care of family.
Oshiro is running for the Aiea seat of state Rep. Tom Okamura, who will not seek re-election.
But Schatz may have the toughest fight. He faces Democratic challenger Casey K.H. Choi in the primary and, if successful, takes on former state lawmaker Sam Aiona, a Republican, in the general election.
Meanwhile, others who filed last week include Allan Tomas, a Republican health care professional who wants the seat held by House Vice Speaker Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa).
AKAKA OPPONENTS: On the congressional level, Harry J. Friel, office manager for Rep. Bob McDermott planned to kick off his campaign for the U.S. Senate today. He joins a crowded field attempting to dump the incumbent, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, a Democrat, who filed for re-election two weeks ago.
Former state senator and GOP chairman John Carroll and Eugene Douglas, from Hilo, have also filed as Republicans.
Arturo Reyes, a Waipahu Democrat, has started campaigning to unseat Akaka.
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