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The mayor's favorable rating
among potential voters is nearly
double that of Hannemann,
his strongest challenger

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

More than half of Oahu voters say they like Mayor Jeremy Harris' vision for Honolulu, while only 15 percent say they prefer Hannemann's message.

Meanwhile, Harris' favorable rating has climbed to 61 percent, the highest it has been since July 1996 and double the rating of Hannemann, whose favorable number of 33 percent is the same as it was in May.

That's according to the latest Honolulu Star-Bulletin/NBC Hawaii News 8 poll, which was conducted Sept. 5-9 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc. of Washington, D.C. The poll of 277 Oahu voters likely to participate in the primary election has a margin of error of plus or minus 7 percentage points.

The results spell good news for the Harris re-election campaign, which is hoping to grab more than 50 percent of the votes cast in the Sept. 23 special election to avoid a runoff with the second-place finisher -- likely to be Hannemann.

"We're very appreciative of the strong support our campaign is receiving from the community," said Managing Director Ben Lee, speaking on behalf of Harris. "The mayor and his campaign will continue to work very hard over the next two weeks."

The poll results are consistent with Harris' campaign numbers showing an upward trend, according to campaign spokesman Harry Mattson.

Hannemann said his own polls show him with a slightly higher positive rating and a slightly lower negative rating.

He nonetheless acknowledged that he remains the underdog, adding that Harris' surge isn't surprising to him given that the mayor has had the advantages of an expensive advertising campaign and a series of highly publicized, city-sponsored community functions in recent weeks.

Hannemann said he believes that he will be able to get his message out and make up ground during a series of televised debates that will appear on three consecutive evenings beginning tonight.

The theory could hold some credence, according to what some respondents to the Star-Bulletin poll had to say.

Barbara Akau, a 21-year-old cosmetologist, is leaning toward Harris. "But I'm going to be watching the debates so I can form a better opinion of them," the Schofield woman said.

But being subject to the exposure of debates could also be detrimental to Hannemann.

Charles Pedesky, a 76-year-old retiree from Ewa Beach, said he likely will vote for Hannemann but intends to watch the debates very carefully. "I could change my mind," he said.

Frank Gomes, a construction company superintendent, said he likes the vision for the island that Harris has presented.

"I can see the improvements since he's become the mayor, especially in Waikiki," said Gomes, a 64-year-old St. Louis Heights resident. "I like what he's done."

Leona Bender, a 70-year-old Kailua designer and saleswoman, also likes the improvements done during Harris' tenure.

Hannemann, she said, "seems to disagree with Harris all of the time."

Hannemann supporter Ken Wong, a 69-year-old Pearl City retiree, said he really doesn't find that much wrong with Harris.

"He's all right, I just want something new," Wong said.

Pedesky said Hannemann "has a better pulse of things" and Harris "comes across as if his most important goal is to appease the political arms he has to work with rather than the people."

Former Mayor Frank Fasi, whom the poll shows having declining favorable ratings, did not return a call for comment on the results.

There was not much support for another Fasi administration among those respondents who spoke to the Star-Bulletin.

"I think Fasi has served his term and did it well," Gomes said. "It's time to allow others to put forth their ideas."

Said Bender: "He's kind of outlived his serviceable years. All he wants to do is make trouble."