TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Kingmaker out
of the runningNever mind leaving the building, veteran Honolulu ad man and reputed political kingmaker Jack Seigle has left the country -- at least temporarily.
Having visited Colombia multiple times in a little more than a year he decided to make a home in Medellin at least part time, he said. He initially connected with people from Central and South America during nearly 30 years of membership in the International Association of Political Consultants.
In spite of its nefarious reputation as drug lord central and typical urban problems, Seigle assures those who care that Medellin is now "a friendly and fascinating place" where he is "thoroughly enjoying the culture, people, language, music, you-name-it."
"At my age everyone deserves an adventure or two," he said. He's 68.
Seigle maintains a residence in Hawaii and returns from time to time.
But not likely to win someone an election. A 1999 Star-Bulletin "Capitol View" column by Richard Borreca identified Seigle as part of a duo that through media campaigns and strategy has been "electing Hawaii's governors for 30 years."
"2002 is a time out for me regarding Hawaii politics," he said, but stopped short of ruling it out in the absolute. "After the 1998 campaign it's time for a breather. ... I'm not working for anyone at this point in time."
And yet, part of his daily routine is to keep up on the news. "I can't seem to make my interest in the governor's race go away" Seigle said.
A new political face
Young but veteran public relations man and author Donovan Dela Cruz has resigned his fast-paced job as senior account executive at Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations Inc. to run for office, finish co-writing his third book and take on a different job.He intends to run in the nonpartisan City Council election for the new District Two.
"It includes Mililani Mauka and Wahiawa, all the North Shore all the way to Heeia and Temple Valley," he said.
Dela Cruz isn't stepping into politics blindly. Since earning bachelor's degrees in journalism and communications studies at the University of Oregon in 1995 he has served as chairman of the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board No. 26 and vice president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
Dela Cruz has accepted a position as marketing director for Honolulu-based Watermark LLC, which published the two books he co-wrote with Leilehua classmate Jodi Endo Chai.
The duo's follow-up to "The Okazu Guide" and "The Puka Guide," "The Omiyage Guide" is in progress and will focus on the goodies one takes to visit family or "when you do a sales call to a neighbor island or the mainland," Dela Cruz said.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com