Campaign donations signal change in isles

It's clear from campaign contributions that the Republicans have overtaken the Democrats for the state's two top positions. People are donating to Republican candidates who want to break the cycle of Hawaii's Democrat-controlled politics. Fed-up taxpayers are digging into their pockets to support this change.

Gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle and lieutenant governor candidate Dalton Tanonaka appear to be the people's choice since they lead in donations. Both are working hard to spread their messages of integrity and increased prosperity.

They are receiving small donations from grass-roots support, not the typical large donations from those seeking business or favors from government. Hawaii voters are tired of the status quo and want a better future. A state government lead by Lingle and Tanonaka is the right choice for Hawaii.

Denise Bui

Lingle upfront about contribution sources

David Roach (Letters, Aug. 2) misleads readers by inferring that Linda Lingle's campaign is not properly disclosing campaign contribution information.

Roach is encouraged to review the Star-Bulletin story "Lingle gets more than $1.5 million for campaign war chest this year," (July 30), which reported that 73 percent of campaign contributions came from Hawaii residents and local companies while 27 percent came from mainland contributors.

Roach also may not be aware that the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission requires candidates to report individual and business donations greater than $100. This information is available to the public at the commission's office (235 S. Beretania St., Suite 300) or on the commission's Web site (www.state.hi.us./campaign/).

Linda Lingle's "New Beginning" is reflected in her approach to raising and reporting funds. No contribution is accepted until it is researched to ensure compliance with campaign-spending law.

Our contributors, volunteers and supporters expect the highest level of integrity in our campaign. We will not disappoint them.

Kathi Thomason
Treasurer
Linda Lingle Campaign Committee

Gasoline price cap won't lower prices

I wholeheartedly agree with Dan Morin's letter (Star-Bulletin, July 25), noting that the gasoline price cap will have serious unintended consequences, such as making it easier for big oil companies to squeeze out small gas station owners.

Another unintended consequence is that on average it will cost more to fill up your car, not less. The price-cap bill regulates only the price of regular self-serve gasoline, the cheapest type available. It doesn't require anyone to refine or sell that type of gasoline, so whenever the gas cap kicks in for that grade of gasoline, the refiners and service stations can stop selling regular self-serve, substituting more expensive mini-serve or higher-octane gasoline. In effect, that would make filling up the car cost an extra 10 cents a gallon or so, all in the name of "consumer protection."

Be sure to send a big mahalo on Nov. 5 to all the incumbent legislators who voted for this ill-conceived oil price cap.

Jim Henshaw

Front-page story on fire official just gossip

I was appalled at the story and headline ("Fire official in hot water: A battalion chief will lose 3 work shifts for having sex on duty," Aug. 1) emblazoned across the front page of the Star-Bulletin for all to see.

Of all the pressing issues regarding our islands, the idea that anyone could have considered this story newsworthy enough to be front-page material is preposterous. Even worse, the story's content was tactless and petty.

It seems that we have nothing better to do than wait for someone to make a mistake and then pounce on him or her when it finally does happen.

I don't know Battalion Chief James Arciero, but I do know that his lengthy record as an upstanding firefighter should speak louder and necessitate more tact than it has in this instance.

While Arciero is not without guilt in his actions, he was quick to acknowledge his wrongdoing, unlike so many public officials and other notable figureheads in this state and beyond. This alone should say something about his character.

Arciero obviously is held in high regard because he offered to submit his resignation but was promptly refused by Fire Chief Leonardi.

I hope that in the future you will choose to print a topic of importance, rather than a subject that should be viewed as idle gossip.

Haunani Cedillos

Cats can take care of isle mouse problem

Here's a simple solution to the rat-mouse-typhus problem on Maui and Molokai (Star-Bulletin, July 27, Aug. 4): cats.

I once lived on a big coffee and banana farm in Costa Rica. There were 46 cats there, 44 of them roaming around. There were absolutely no rats and the cats were seldom hungry. They knew there was meat and soup available for them daily at the house, but they were not hungry. The opportunity to hunt the wild mice kept them fat and happy.

Think about it: Don't euthanize the extra cats, let them roam in the Maui area where the rats are. There is no muss and no fuss to worry about. No dead bodies, no typhus and no odor. It works, believe me.

Lois Cope
Aiea

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