Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Campaign 2000

A Look At The Hot Races And Issues

Republican, Libertarian
foes seize on Kanno's pro-
labor stand, Bronster vote

---

Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

STATE Sen. Brian Kanno is an incumbent Democrat enjoying an impressive array of union support, but Republicans are sizing him up as a perfect target.

Kanno, the Yale-educated son of a union electrician, said his strong pro-union stands have cost him votes.

"I've been one who at times digs in his heels and takes a stand. I realize that comes at a price," he said.

Critics have said Kanno uses his Senate seat to stop legislation opposed by the United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association.

SENATE DISTRICT 20 Ewa Beach-Makakilo Brian Kanno (D) Occupation: Part-time administrator, Ewa Beach Boys and Girls Club; part-time facilitator, Parents and Children Together Background: Former aide to U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink; first elected in 1992 Hank Makini (R) Occupation: Owner, Eye Plus, Inc.; doctor of optometry Background: Private practice in Nanakuli, 1990-95; member of Pacific Island Band Wade Thode (L) Occupation: Waste Water Treatment maintenance technician Background: Machinist mate, U.S. Navy -- served 10 years aboard nuclear submarines

"There is a cry out there from the people, they want change, they are tired of the type of politics they have had," said Republican challenger Hank Makini.

Libertarian Wade Thode said, "The politicians there now don't represent the district. Brian Kanno is just playing the game for the party."

All three candidates are 39, married with children, and believe education is the top issue in the district.

The Ewa Beach to Makakilo area, with the new development of Kapolei at its center, is the fastest-growing district in the state. Ewa Beach is an older, blue-collar neighborhood; Kapolei has new houses, new families and new schools; Makakilo has an older middle-class area with new upper-middle-class developments along the hillside.

"Part of the reason why I'm a strong advocate for labor is that the people in my district are working people, they aren't business owners or executives," Kanno said.

Makini said Kanno is trying to paint him as anti-labor because he is a small business owner.

"If anybody met me they would know I work hard for a living and I want to work to bring the community together," Makini said.

Thode, who came to Hawaii in 1983 in the Navy, looks at his campaign as "a tough fight" but hopes to educate voters about the Libertarian Party.

"If I could get in I know I would do a good job, I just couldn't do it as a Democrat or Republican because they are different sides of the same coin," Thode said.

So far Kanno is winning the battle for campaign donations, as he has collected $124,924, including almost $24,000 since the September primary election.

Kanno has received $20,269 from labor unions, including the HGEA, the AFL-CIO and the ILWU.

Makini has raised almost $50,000, with $37,000 coming since the primary. Included in the donations is $5,000 from the insurance industry.

Some of Makini's money went to subsidize a 1,200-person rally at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park on Sunday.

He sold the 1,200 tickets for $9 each, which he said covered admission, entertainment and a buffet dinner. Makini declined to say how much the event cost, saying it will be reported on his next spending report.

Kanno is also getting help from Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, who has sent out letters addressing criticism that he is "too close to the unions." Hirono said Kanno helped fashion a compromise workers compensation insurance bill that resulted in lower rates.

Early in the campaign this year, Kanno had an even more controversial issue to handle -- his rejection of Margery Bronster's re-appointment as attorney general, for which he apologized to the district voters.

"I wanted to say I also made a mistake," he said.

In the primary election Kanno had the largest percentage of blank votes for any incumbent, 30 percent. Kanno said that could be because so many new families in the district don't know him.

Makini, however, sees the voter's reaction differently.

"The Bronster decision really pushed them over the hill -- that is what got them upset," Makini said. "They are saying, 'Now you are disconnected from us.' "

But Kanno said that Makini, who describes himself as a strong conservative, is the one disconnected from the district.

At a community forum Makini was asked what were the first issues he wanted to tackle if elected. Makini said school prayer was most important, Kanno said.

"That is something for the Board of Education to handle," Kanno said.

"I support the separation of church and state. Ours is a very diverse community. Something that could be viewed as opportunity for meditation could create a problem," Kanno said.

Makini said that school prayer isn't the first issue he wants to address, but that it's one of the first.

"Either a moment of silence or a moment of silent prayer -- it would be a way to help develop respect in the schools," he said.