Bob Herkes vies for new
Big Isle district seat

VOLCANO, Hawaii >> Former Hawaii County Councilman and state lawmaker Bob Herkes announced Friday that he is a candidate for the new 5th District House seat created by reapportionment.

Herkes, who was elected to the Council in 1984, appointed to a state Senate vacancy in 1987 and elected to the House in 1992, said he is running as a Democrat.

The new district includes the largely rural area around the south part of the Big Island from South Kona to Puna.

If elected, Herkes said he will push for developing new water sources, improved telephone and Internet service, better education, parks and highways and an improved economic climate to generate more jobs.

Lingle gets familiar face

Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle has turned once again to Bob Awana to run her campaign organization.

Awana served as Lingle's campaign manager in 1998 when she came close to unseating Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano.

"We all learned a lot during that campaign, and we intend to put that experience and knowledge to work in order to win this time," Awana said.

Lingle praised Awana's leadership in her first run for governor.

"Under Bob's leadership, we were able to organize one of the most effective grass-roots organizations in the state even though I wasn't that well known when the race began in 1998," said Lingle, who had served as mayor of Maui.

"Our grass-roots team from the 1998 race is still with us, but it has also grown during the past four years due to Linda's effective leadership as chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party," Awana said.

In February, Lingle stepped down from the post she held since 1999.

"People across the state have been able to view her leadership skills as she has worked to create a two-party system of government, and I believe people in all parties as well as independents are grateful for her efforts," Awana said.

Former Senator returns

He's baaack.

Former Republican state Sen. Rick Reed bowed out of political life in 1994 and moved to the Pacific Northwest where he proclaimed that he was delighted to be a private citizen.

On Thursday, Reed was back in the Senate chambers, this time as an onlooker.

Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai) pointed out Reed sitting in the gallery. Slom told his Senate colleagues that Reed, who had represented East Maui, is now back in Hawaii living in Kailua.

Reed's political career and public life included controversies over organized-crime allegations and same-sex marriage. He also ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye in 1992.

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