On Politics
By Richard Borreca
Democrats try to get
their act togetherHawaii Democrats, increasingly edgy as they approach the pivotal fall elections, are questioning whether they are ready for what appears to be the strongest Republican challenge in more than three decades.
For years, they've run the state with commanding majorities in the state House and Senate, plus held a tight grip on the governor's office. Thanks to Hawaii's centralized government, controlled by the ruling political party, the Democrats' muscle has been a patronage system that has stockpiled both candidates and workers for political campaigns.
But adding to the uncertainty this year, the Democrats have no gubernatorial standard bearer or kingpin to fall back on. In past years, they simply promoted the lieutenant governor to governor and the party never faltered.
This year, Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono is running for mayor and the top Democratic candidate, Mayor Jeremy Harris, is under investigation by the city Prosecutor for campaign spending violations.
Lorraine Akiba, the ebullient new party chair, says the investigation shouldn't hurt Harris.
"I am confident that the investigation will show that there isn't any wrongdoing as alleged," said Akiba, whose law firm has been hired by Harris to represent him in the investigation.
One top Democrat and former officeholder, who asked not to be identified, said the real problem is the Democratic Party just doesn't know what it wants to be, who it wants to help and how it will campaign.
Another anonymous Democrat and state Senate leader said the divisions within the party are such that "you can feel the tension."
In normal times, the state Democrats are able to do a good imitation of Ukrainian politics and divvy up into dozens of political sects.
There are Rainbow Coalition Democrats, who still think the Rev. Jesse Jackson might make a pretty good president. There are liberal Democrats who grouse that Tom Gill and Jean King -- both former lieutenant governors -- should be leading the party. There are card-carrying Democrats who just want to go out and smash any Republican to punish those running dogs of the Big Five. And then there are elected Democrats who are just looking to make it back next year.
To give you an example of some of the existing tensions, here is a portion of a letter that former Hawaii Democratic Party Chairman Walter Heen sent to the Democratic National Committee after he found out that Harris had collected and sent to the national party $100,000 in local contributions in 2000.
"The contribution ... completely undermines the authority, integrity and credibility of the Democratic Party of Hawaii," Heen wrote.
"It deprived the local campaign of the ability to conduct a more effective and spirited campaign ... (and) could result in an erosion of the already weakened Democratic base in Hawaii and result in the loss of the governorship, the Legislature and even some congressional seats in 2002," he warned.
Asked about the letter now, Heen acknowledges it was written right after the disastrous 2000 election, when the Democrats lost seven House seats and the party was having trouble raising money.
Heen later stepped down as party chair to be succeeded by Akiba, who brushed aside any problems between local Democrats and the national wing of the Democratic Party.
"I don't see any problem with candidates raising money for their political party and I don't feel there has been a lack of support since I have come on board. I don't see any tension; it has been a very positive relationship," she said.
Still, other party leaders are saying the coordinated campaign, pushed by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye last year, has not trickled down to the rank and file.
"They are keeping the information only within the people in power," one state senator said. "We don't see anyone leading the charge."
The first measurable sign of the Democrats' viability in the fall campaigns comes at the precinct election meetings. Some officials are worrying that there simply won't be much interest in the elections and spaces will go vacant.
Akiba, however, is predicting a strong turn-out.
"We are right on track," she says.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.
