Lingle to quit
as head of GOP

The GOP's executive director,
Micah Kane, will become chairman

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

Linda Lingle will resign her post as state Republican chairwoman sometime after February and will be replaced by Micah Kane, the GOP's executive director.

Over the weekend, Lingle took the unusual step of announcing her future retirement and asking that Kane be named to take over. The request was approved by the GOP's 70-person state committee, she said.

"We know a vacancy is going to occur," Lingle said. "I'm saying it's going to happen in the early spring, and we want to have consistency."

After taking over as GOP chairwoman in 1999, Lingle said she would resign the position in 2001 or 2002 to campaign full time for governor.

"I wanted to see it through the Lincoln Day dinner on Feb. 7 and then focus on ... the race for governor," Lingle said.

Lingle, former mayor of Maui County, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998, but the close race encouraged her to remain in politics.

She was instrumental in developing several new GOP candidates in the 2000 election, and the Republican party was able to win 19 House seats, the largest minority membership in the 51-member House in more than a quarter-century.

"She has been the party-builder," said Rep. Joe Gomes (R, Waimanalo-Kailua). "What she did was add a certain confidence and practical belief that things can change and they will change."

Kane, former political action committee director for the Building Trades Council, worked on Lingle's 1998 campaign and was hired as executive director after Lingle was elected party chairwoman.

Kane said he does not plan to change GOP goals, which include getting Lingle elected and winning a majority in the state House, but says he will change how the party is run.

"The only difference is, a lot of people have put their trust in Linda's leadership, so with her not being there, collectively more people will have to be involved," Kane said. "But that is good because you shouldn't be too dependent on one person."

He called himself a "moderate and inclusive" Republican.

"Also, I believe in having fun," Kane said. "If you aren't having a good time, why get involved?"