KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM
John Carroll announced his candidacy for the Republican
nomination for governor Saturday at a news conference
at the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials on the
state Capitol grounds.

Ex-senator challenges
Lingle in primary

The governor's race is
flush with GOP chiefs
of the past and present

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

The Republican primary race for governor shapes up as a battle of the party chairmen as former GOP Chairman John Carroll announced his candidacy for governor Saturday.

Carroll, party chairman in 1980, is a former state House and Senate member and has run unsuccessfully for the Senate from the Big Island and two years ago ran for the U.S. Senate.

Current GOP chairwoman Linda Lingle has already said she would run for governor in 2002.

There's another former GOP chairman considering a run for governor as a Democrat: D.G. "Andy" Anderson, also a former state senator, has established an exploratory committee for a gubernatorial race.

Carroll says he is running because of his military and business experience. Carroll is a former military pilot, judge advocate for the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard, and businessman.

"Because of my credentials and experience, I have been urged by longtime and newfound friends alike to run for governor," Carroll said.

Micah Kane, GOP executive director, welcomed Carroll's entry into the race, saying a contested primary election would help the GOP.

"A primary is healthy but we won't be foolish: We will support a candidate that can win, and Linda Lingle's vision is much broader than just her campaign," Kane said.

Lingle was unavailable for comment.

Windward Republican Rep. Joe Gomes answered Carroll's announcement by saying he was supporting Lingle.

"I like and admire John Carroll," Gomes said. "But it is Linda Lingle, not he, that should be our next governor."

Two years ago, Carroll made waves with his lawsuit alleging that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is spending its money in a "racially discriminatory" manner.

He contends that it violates the Equal Rights Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The court suit is pending.

Carroll also called for stripping away restrictions imposed on the shipping industry which create a monopoly locally and hurt all Hawaii residents.