Now the campaigns begin. Legislators turn sights
toward electionRedrawn district lines create
opportunities and political dilemmasBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comAfter some debates on assisted suicide, gas prices and long-term health care, the state Legislature's scheduled adjournment today signals the unofficial election season kickoff.
With 127 elected seats up for grabs this November and newly reapportioned districts offering rare political opportunities, a higher-than-usual number of House legislators already are on the move months before the July 23 filing deadline.
"I wish them all the best," said House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo), who is expecting several farewell speeches on the House floor today.
Out of the starting blocks early last year was state Rep. Bob McDermott (R, Foster Village), a six-year legislator who has already begun to campaign around Oahu in his congressional bid against U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawaii.
"I'm going to miss it but it's time to move on," McDermott said.
Two lawmakers taking advantage of the decennial reapportionment are Reps. Willie Espero (D, Ewa Beach) and Paul Whalen (R, South Kona). Both are declared state Senate candidates after redistricting created new districts -- with no incumbents -- in their respective communities.
"Due to the high growth in my district, my current House district represents approximately 90 percent of the new Senate district," said Espero, who was appointed to his Ewa Beach seat in 1999 and won election there in 2000.
Whalen said that after six years in office, it was time to allow new people with new ideas to win his House seat to strike a balance with incumbents.
He is proud of his work there and, if elected, said he looks forward toward pushing educational reform in the Senate.
Other House members considering possible Senate runs are Guy Ontai, a Republican, and Marilyn Lee, a Democrat. Both Mililani residents have taken out papers to run for the Senate seat held by Democrat Ron Menor.
Menor and Sen. Matt Matsunaga (D, Palolo) are said to be pondering a Democratic bid for lieutenant governor. Lee said she would run for the Senate if Menor left to seek the lieutenant governor's seat.
Also looking at the Senate is Rep. Lei Ahu Isa (D, Liliha), who says she is switching to the Republican Party.
The six-year legislator, who first ran for public office in 1994 as a Honolulu City Council candidate, is attracted to a new Senate district that borders the Honolulu waterfront.
One representative with a problem is Nobu Yonamine (D, Pearl City), who faces a contested primary election if he runs for re-election in the House or as a challenger in the Senate.
Yonamine has pulled papers to run against incumbent Sen. David Ige (D, Pearl City). But if he does not and remains in the House, he faces a primary race against Roy Takumi (D, Waipahu). Because of reapportionment, the two now live in the same House district.
Elsewhere, Reps. Charles Djou (R, Kaneohe) and Nestor Garcia (D, Waipio) are expected to run for the Honolulu City Council.
Both have not yet filed nomination papers for the Council.
Djou, a one-term legislator, was forced by reapportionment into the same House district as fellow Republican David Pendleton (Maunawili), which prompted him to seek another public office.
Djou said it was a rewarding experience creating new laws, and that as minority floor leader he welcomed the opportunity to show the state what a two-party democracy can be like. The Hawaii Republican Party is targeting the House and the governor's office in this year's elections.
"There is a tinge of sadness for me in leaving the House," Djou said. "I think I've accomplished a lot. And there still remains a lot to be done."
And seeking the state's highest office is Rep. Ed Case (D, Manoa), an attorney who has served in the House for eight years.
Case, who believes Hawaii government is too big for the population it serves and who has pushed for more state fiscal accountability, faces a tough primary election that includes Democrats Andy Anderson and Jeremy Harris.
Anderson is a businessman and former Hawaii GOP chairman, while Harris, Honolulu mayor, has put his gubernatorial campaign on hold while he awaits a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling on whether he has to resign as mayor to run for governor even though he has not yet filed his nomination papers.
In the Senate only Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) has filed papers to run for re-election. The rest are likely waiting for the mid-July filing deadline to draw closer before announcing their intentions.
One of the key matchups is expected between incumbents Lorraine Inouye (D, North Hilo) and David Matsuura (D, South Hilo).
Reapportionment placed both in the same Big Island district, setting up a major Democratic race in September that could split Hilo.
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