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Republican
fund-raising soars

'Today we are the ones
fighting for the little guy,'
says party leader Lingle

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By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Calling itself the party of Hawaii's outsiders, state Republicans did some financial muscle-flexing last night with a sell-out Lincoln Day fund-raiser at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel.

The party raised an estimated $220,000 before expenses, with donors paying between $75 and $500 for a seat.

Since taking over as party chairwoman two years ago, Linda Lingle has raised more than twice as much as the Democrats, $339,103 to $189,215, according to state campaign spending commission officials.

Last night, the 1,700 supporters heard Lingle compare the new GOP in Hawaii to the state's legendary Democrats of 1954.

"Today we are the ones fighting for the little guy against the powerful insiders, just as the Democrats fought the entrenched old-guard Republicans 50 years ago," she said.

Lingle, who lost the campaign for governor in 1998 by 5,000 votes, is planning on running again next year but, last night, she said the party's rebuilding effort is not for her campaign alone.

"Our efforts are not aimed at one particular campaign in 2002, I am focusing on identifying, mentoring and motivating a new generation of leaders in this state," she said.

She was critical of Gov. Ben Cayetano, alluding to the labor troubles between him and the state university professors' union, which three years ago endorsed Lingle.

"When high-level government decisions are influenced by who supported the governor in an election, you end up with the looming crisis we are facing at the university," she said.

Attending the dinner last night at Lingle's request was J.N. Musto, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly executive director. He praised Lingle's work with the party, but declined to say if the union would support her again.

"What Lingle has done, however, is to get a lot of young adults interested in the party, and if there is any hope for any political party it is with the youth," Musto said.

A group of young Republicans who worked on Sam Aiona's unsuccessful campaign were helping run a silent auction at last night's fund-raiser.

Twenty-one-year-old Michelle Kaku said she got interested in the GOP when her sociology professor required her to volunteer for a political campaign last year.

"I picked the Republicans because I wanted something different," she said.

More young voters are thinking the same, she said.

"For younger ones, I can see them changing for the Republican Party, but the older ones are all still Democrats," she said.

Naomi Raab, 18, recalls that she "was brought up in a Democratic house; both my parents are Democrats," but volunteered to help at the fund-raiser because she supports the GOP.

Others attending the dinner included labor leader Tony Rutledge, who said he would "absolutely" support Lingle if she were to run against Mayor Jeremy Harris for governor next year.

His labor organization, Unity House, sponsored a $3,500 table at last night's event.

Keynote speaker at the dinner was Jack Oliver, the 32-year-old former national finance director for President George W. Bush's presidential campaign.

He raised a total of $99 million, including $37 million in 120 days.