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Ige to seek
re-election to his
state Senate seat
Despite his pending court
Council vacancies draw three suitors By Crystal Kua
case, he'll run against
Republican Bob Hogue
Star-BulletinDemocratic state Sen. Marshall Ige filed to run again for his Kaneohe-Kailua seat (24th District), ending speculation on whether he would seek re-election while fighting charges of campaign-spending violations connected to the state's Bishop Estate probe.
Ige's decision to file for office yesterday comes as a 4:30 p.m. deadline today looms over other candidates wishing to run in the Sept. 23 primary election.
Ige's filing sets up a general election race against former TV sportscaster Bob Hogue, who is running as a Republican. Former Sen. Stan Koki decided against running for the Republican nomination for Ige's seat.
Ige could not be reached for comment last night but he has said -- particularly to his constituents -- that he is not guilty of the misdemeanor charges and will be exonerated at trial.
His attorney, Birney Bervar, said last night that a trial date will be set after pretrial motions are heard on Aug. 22. The case, stemming from the state's investigation into the former Bishop Estate trustees, has been pending for more than a year, leading to speculation as to whether Ige would run again.
Bervar referred questions to Ige about Ige's intentions to run, but said: "He's got a case but that's completely separate from his filing for office."
While the Bishop Estate scandal has not deterred Ige from seeking re-election, it has affected other politicians. Former Rep. Terrance Tom, who had a $4,000-a-month contract with the estate, lost an election bid two years ago and former state Sen. Milton Holt, a former estate employee, went to prison on mail fraud charges connected to campaign spending violations.
Democrat Bob Herkes is giving up his House seat in Kau and Puna on the Big Island as part of a settlement between the Bishop Estate, now known as the Kamehameha Schools, and the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS insisted that Kamehameha Schools get out of politics and Herkes worked for Kamehameha Investment Corp., a for-profit subsidiary of the estate. He is now running for Big Island mayor and resigned from his Kamehameha Schools job.
The House seat being vacated by Herkes is one of eight in the Legislature that will not have an incumbent running.
Sens. Norman Mizuguchi (D, Aiea) and Joe Tanaka (D, Wailuku), both of whom voted against reappointing Margery Bronster as attorney general last year while her office was investigating the charitable trust, decided not to seek office, citing reasons not related to the Bronster controversy or the estate.
Meanwhile, other House races that so far are without incumbents include seats being vacated by Rep. David Stegmeier (D, Hawaii Kai), Rep. David Morihara (D, Makawao), Rep. Romy Cachola (D, Kalihi), Rep. Tom Okamura (D, Aiea) and Rep. Alex Santiago (D, North Shore).
Three Republicans and seven Democrats were unopposed as of yesterday and would automatically regain their office unless someone files today. They are Rep. Jerry Chang (D, South Hilo), Rep. Eric Hamakawa (D, South Hilo, Puna), Rep. Jim Rath (R, North Kona), Rep. Robert Nakasone (D, Kahului), Rep. Barbara Marumoto (R, Kahala), Rep. Nathan Suzuki (D, Aliamanu), Rep. K. Mark Takai (D, Waimalu), Rep. Nestor Garcia (D, Waipahu), Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R, Kailua) and Sen. Ron Menor (D, Mililani).
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