Former Republican Party Chairman D.G. "Andy" Anderson came closer to declaring his candidacy in the Democratic gubernatorial primary election yesterday as he signed a Democratic Party card. Former GOP chairman joins
Democrats, eyes run for govBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.comAnderson announced last month he was forming an exploratory committee to judge whether he has the support to run for governor against Mayor Jeremy Harris and state Rep. Ed Case in the Democratic primary.
Anderson says he left the GOP seven years ago after the GOP candidate for governor, Pat Saiki, came in third in a three-way general election. Anderson blamed conservative Christian members of the GOP who supported Independent Frank Fasi because of his anti-abortion stand.
When Anderson was asked during his news conference yesterday if he was definitely running for governor, Anderson said, "If you can add two and two, I would say yes."
Anderson, who unsuccessfully ran for governor as a Republican, says he brings experience to the Democratic Party.
"I am the only businessman running. I build, I hire people, I am in the private sector, I create jobs. What I do is what the state needs. The state needs a businessman to put the state back on track," Anderson said.
He was flanked by former Democratic Party Chairman Walter Heen and former University of Hawaii President Fujio Matsuda, who both praised Anderson, saying he could bring together new coalitions.
"In the period when I was chair, I tried to bring the party together and without apparent success. In Andy, I see a person with the opportunity to bring the party together and bring the entire community together," Heen said.
The Democrats were joined by former Democratic state Rep. David Hagino, who also endorsed Anderson. Hagino said that when he first ran for office as a Democrat, then-Republican Anderson endorsed him.