WAIKAPU, Maui >> U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye predicts this year's election campaign will be one of the "dirtiest and most vicious" in Hawaii's history. Inouye predicts
‘vicious’ campaignThe senator believes recent
Voting tests go well
prosecutions have political motiveAssociated Press
In a talk on Maui Friday, Inouye noted the recent arrests and prosecution of several Oahu politicians and said that "just by coincidence, the only ones who're called in are Democrats."
[ ELECTION 2002 ] Asked later if he was implying that the prosecutions are politically motivated, Inouye said, "What other conclusion can I reach?"
That drew a sharp retort from Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle. He said the decision to prosecute is based on evidence and violations of law, not on politics. He said that his office is nonpartisan and that politics "doesn't play in our equation."
In his talk to Maui's Democratic Century Club, Inouye said Democrats should not give up on the governor's race. He noted that Democratic Govs. John Waihee and Ben Cayetano also trailed in the polls but pulled out victories.
"This time it's smooth sailing for us," he said, calling on Democrats to not even consider losing as an option.
Inouye was critical of Republican front-runner Linda Lingle's commitment, as Maui mayor, to projects such as revitalizing Wailuku town and supporting the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei.
Lingle has been critical of Democrats for political patronage, but hired her husband while serving as mayor, Inouye said. "How can she talk about patronage?" he said.
He also criticized Lingle for allowing, as mayor, nonunion labor on a county housing project in Makawao where workers were paid substandard wages.
Lingle spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka said Inouye's criticisms are "very old."
He said the criticism of Lingle for hiring her then-husband, William Crockett, to defend her as an individual in a federal lawsuit seems to come up only at election time.
State Office of Elections
