ASSOCIATED PRESS Clayton Hee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, filed his papers for the office of lieutenant governor yesterday at the state Capitol in Honolulu. Hee was OHA chairman for three periods during his 12 years on the board, and he served in the Hawaii state Senate for four years.

Lieutenant governor’s
race draws big field

OHA's Hee becomes the first
Democrat to file papers for
the state's No. 2 job

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

Clayton Hee, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee who has had his share of political battles during 20 years in public office, is the latest person to file as a candidate for lieutenant governor.

"I expect that this will be a very tough race. There's no question in my mind. But then, I'm used to that. I've always run tough races," said Hee, who sat on his horse Lucky yesterday as he waved to motorists on Beretania Street from the state Capitol grounds.

The filing deadline for this fall's election is next Tuesday. As of Friday, seven candidates from six different political parties have tossed in their hats for the lieutenant governor's race.

Among them are James Aiona, a former state judge, and Dalton Tanonaka, a former television news anchor. Another GOP candidate, Cam Cavasso, a businessman and former state legislator, will file for the office Thursday. All three will then face off on the Republican ballot.

Kenneth L. Vaughan is a candidate on the Libertarian Party of Hawaii ticket, while Daniel Morimoto represents the Natural Law Party. Also, Arthur J. Powell is running on the new Free Energy Party of Hawaii slot. And campaigning as a nonpartisan is Michael K. Medeiros.

A few others who are interested in the seat are Renee B.L. Ing, a nonpartisan, and Li Zhao, a Libertarian.

Hee is the first Democrat to officially file for the seat, but he is expected to face Matt Matsunaga and Ron Menor, both state senators, and Donna Ikeda, a Board of Education member, in this September's primary election.

"I'm not running against Sparky Matsunaga. That's Matt's father. And I'm not running against Ben Menor. That's Ron's father," Hee said.

"I'm running against their sons, and I'm the son of Charley Hee."

Hee, who served two terms in the state House and a term in the state Senate, said Democrats should not be ashamed of being Democrats, alluding to the recently highly publicized criminal convictions of Democratic politicians.

He said the party -- which has held the governor's and lieutenant governor's seats since 1962 -- needs to change.

Hee believes Democrats can retain a hold on the state administration despite Republicans being ahead in the polls.

During his 12 years at OHA, Hee has served as chairman of its board for three periods, from 1991 to 1997, for most of 2000 and for six months from September 2001 to February 2002. All three board reorganizations following those periods were highly contentious.

Matsunaga, an attorney and certified public accountant, said Friday he is running for lieutenant governor because he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to government.

He has more than 20 years in business and a decade as a state legislator, including chairman of the Senate Economic Development and Judiciary committees.

"It's going to take cooperation, collaboration and concentration on results to meet the serious challenges we face," Matsunaga said. "That's the leadership I've offered throughout my career, and it's how I'll serve the people of Hawaii as lieutenant governor."