John Mink secures Support for John Mink's candidacy to finish the remainder of his late wife's term in Congress came in different forms yesterday.
support for candidacy
Republican challenger
Absentee ballots available
McDermott drops out
in favor of John MinkBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.comThe most unexpected support came from Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott, who will be opposing Democratic U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. She died Sept. 28.
McDermott yesterday pulled out of the Nov. 30 special election that would fill the remaining weeks of Mink's current term, which expires in January.
"This guy lost his wife, and now he's saying, you know, he wants to serve the remainder of her term. Who the heck am I to try and compete for that? I've got no business being in that race," McDermott said.
The chief of the state's largest public employee union also threw his support behind John Mink, whose wife was a strong supporter of labor, and will encourage his union to do the same.
"Many of us were encouraging John to run because our members feel very strongly that the best way to perpetuate and show our appreciation of Patsy Mink would be through John Mink's candidacy," said Russell Okata, executive director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association.
While John Mink filed to run in the special election yesterday, he has said that he will not run to permanently fill the 2nd Congressional District (rural Oahu, neighbor islands) seat.
If his wife wins the Nov. 5 election posthumously, there will be a Jan. 4 special election to fill her two-year term in the next Congress.
Former Gov. John Waihee, who decided not to enter the Nov. 30 special election but could still run if there is a Jan. 4 election, also endorsed John Mink.
"John Mink has shown extraordinary courage; he is clearly still mourning the untimely passing of his wife," Waihee said yesterday. "He is the best person to complete Patsy's work."
Also withdrawing from the Nov. 30 special election yesterday were former Democratic state Sen. Malama Solomon and nonpartisan candidate Richard Wilson.
A total of 38 candidates remain in the race, including state Rep. Ed Case, who lost the Democratic nomination for governor in the September primary election.
"Although I can't endorse anybody, being I'm a Republican, I would say it's pretty clear that one person who has earned -- earned is the key word again -- that opportunity to finish the term is John Mink himself," McDermott said.
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Absentee mail ballots are available for Hawaii residents eligible to vote in the special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink. Absentee ballots available
Only registered voters in Mink's 2nd District -- rural Oahu and the neighbor islands -- are eligible to vote in the Nov. 30 special election.
Voters who requested absentee mail ballots for the primary or general election won't automatically be sent an absentee ballot for the special election, elections officials said yesterday. A separate request is required.
Application forms are available at public libraries and at most post offices or by phone from city-county clerks. Internet users can also download a form at http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/voteab.html
Completed absentee mail applications must be received by the clerks' offices by Nov. 22.
Associated Press
