CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM After discussing his political plans yesterday at a news conference, Walter Dods, left, was greeted by a well-wisher.

Dems recruit for
governor, GOP says

Banker Walter Dods says
the decision to not run for
governor was his own choice

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By Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com

Republicans are predicting that Democratic Party leaders will find another dominant candidate for governor now that banker Walter Dods has dropped his exploratory look at the governor's race.

After Democratic front-runner Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris announced he would not run, Dods, one of the state's most influential business leaders, became interested.

Already campaigning for the Democratic nomination are D.G. "Andy" Anderson, Rep. Ed Case (D, Manoa) and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.

Dods, chairman and chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank and BancWest, insists he wanted to run because of his own deeply held convictions and that when he decided not to, it also was his own decision.

"No one pushed me in and no one pushed me out," Dods said yesterday at a news conference.

But Micah Kane, GOP chairman, said he doubted that.

"I don't think Mr. Dods got up and said, 'I want to become governor,'" Kane said. "I think he was recruited by Democratic power-brokers in their attempt to retain power."

Kane's sentiments were similar to those expressed by Anderson, who, although he is a Democratic candidate, is also a former GOP leader.

"I think Walter Dods' flirtation with the race was because of back-room dealers who were convinced that Mazie Hirono couldn't win," Anderson said.

Kane said: "Democrats are concerned about keeping power and we are concerned about bringing balance to government."

Lorraine Akiba, Democratic Party chairwoman, dismissed Kane's charges, saying Democrats are "used to having a contested primary."

"Contrary to Republican propaganda, it is the Democrats who give the voters more than one choice," Akiba said. "We have three excellent candidates. Unlike the Republicans, we don't have an anointed candidate."

She added, "The fact that someone like Walter Dods could give consideration to the race reflects the diversity of our party."

Case and Hirono said they respected Dods' decision and would not change their campaign strategies.

Dods yesterday announced that, after 10 days of consideration, he decided not to run because of his family.

"My kids looked me in the eye last night and said, 'You know, Dad, you're a great dad, but you've never spent the kind of time with us we'd really like.' That's pretty tough to take," Dods said.

Dods also said that to step down from the bank, where he has just started a new three-year contract, would cost him $10 million.

The 61-year-old banker and Damon Estate trustee is also a close political friend of several of Hawaii's major politicians, including former Gov. George Ariyoshi and U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

Last week's exploration by Dods brought words of support from Gov. Ben Cayetano, who like Ariyoshi said Dods would make a good governor.

In his news conference yesterday, Dods at times sounded like he would have relished the campaign, saying he wanted to clean up government, stress the economy and show his concern for the poor in Hawaii.

Dods himself is a success story. Born poor, he was one of seven children. He worked his way through high school, started with a low-level job at First Hawaiian Bank and by 1989 was running the bank.

His reputation as a savvy marketer helped him promote the bank, but industry colleagues also respected his business sense and he was elected president of the American Bankers Association.

Jack Hoag, former vice chairman at First Hawaiian Bank and director of BancWest Corp., said he thought Hawaii "could have used Walter's unique leadership qualities."

"He's a real man of his word and someone who gets the job done," Hoag said.

But Hoag noted that First Hawaiian Bank's customers will benefit from his continued leadership at the company.