Three face-to-face meetings this week with her Democratic gubernatorial opponent are not enough for Republican Linda Lingle, who yesterday charged that Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will not appear at a Hawaii Hotel Association forum because "she has no plan" for the tourist industry. Lingle accuses Hirono
of dodging hotels forumThe Democratic candidate "has no plan"
for the tourist industry, Lingle claimsBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.comLingle and Hirono have agreed to meet today before the American Association of Retired Persons for a forum. They have also agreed to meet tomorrow at a forum to be held at the state Capitol by the Alliance for Health and Human Services. And finally, the two will appear Thursday at the University of Hawaii for a forum sponsored by the Sierra Club.
But the one meeting that Lingle is focusing on is the hotel association, which endorsed Lingle's first bid for governor four years ago. Yesterday, Lingle picked up the endorsement of the Maui Hotel Association, which praised her work as the former mayor of Maui.
"My opponent has refused to appear at that forum, and this is going to be very disappointing to the people of Hawaii," Lingle said.
"But it is also very telling that my opponent has no plan for the future of this important industry," she said.
In response, a spokeswoman said Hirono had made a previous commitment for the day of the hotel association meeting.
"We have other things planned for that day," Barbara Tanabe said.
Today's meeting is expected to feature a debate on government approaches to dealing with the cost of prescription drugs. Hirono has endorsed plans pushed in the Legislature to require lower-priced drugs, while Lingle is opposed to it.
The program for all residents would go into effect in 2004. The state would get manufacturers' rebates on drugs that are offered at discounted prices to program participants.
Instead of the drug rebates, Lingle has urged that the state stop charging tax on medical services and products.
Yesterday, Lingle said she would accept debates or forums from groups that have not supported her in the past. For instance, she said she would appear before the Sierra Club, which had endorsed state Rep. Ed Case in the primary election last month.
"We are accepting a wide range of forums," Lingle said. "I don't like to go to only places that are in synch with me; I like to go places that have a different point of view so I can share my opinions."
The Sierra Club meeting is free and open to the public. It will be held noon Thursday at the University of Hawaii-Manoa architecture auditorium.
Hirono's campaign also charged that Lingle had turned down a joint appearance before the Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce two weeks from now, but a spokesman for Lingle said her campaign has not yet decided whether to accept the invitation.
