DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
At a rally at the Sheraton-Waikiki last night, EPA Administrator and former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman was greeted by Linda Lingle before speaking at the $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser.
EPA’s Whitman U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Christie Todd Whitman helped Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle raise about $300,000 last night during a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel.
helps Lingle raise
$300,000
But Democrats blast Whitman for
Bush's record on the environmentBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
Whitman, considered a social moderate whose pro-choice stance made her a controversial two-term governor of New Jersey, has raised money for Republicans in San Francisco, Arizona, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland, Washington and Alaska this year.
Lingle told supporters at a cocktail party before the dinner that Whitman's support is key to helping her win next month.
"She has a tremendous environmental record, and I'm proud to have her here," Lingle said.
Earlier in the day, Democrats got in some early hits on the Whitman visit, attacking the Bush administration's environmental record.
Lorraine Akiba, Democratic Party chairwoman, said Lingle's administration was criticized by the Sierra Club, which has endorsed the Democratic ticket of Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Matt Matsunaga.
"If Lingle is our next governor, we can expect more of the same environmental mismanagement throughout our entire state," Akiba said.
In a press release issued earlier in the day, Matsunaga criticized the Bush administration for wanting to drill for oil in the Alaska Arctic Refuge.
"Linda Lingle's environmental record is no different from the Bush administration, which supports drilling in the Alaska Arctic Refuge," Matsunaga said.
"What would Hawaii's environment look like if Linda Lingle ... is our next governor?"
In April the Senate killed an amendment to open a portion of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration.
Democrats killed the bill, but Hawaii's two senators, Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, voted with most of the Republicans to allow the drilling, which Matsunaga did not mention in his release.
According to a United Press International report of the vote, all Democrats (and Vermont "Independent" Jim Jeffords) voted against the drilling except Akaka, Inouye, John Breaux of Louisiana, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Zell Miller of Georgia.
Whitman defended the Bush administration's record, saying that the president has sponsored a "Clear Skies" plan that "is the most comprehensive reform of the Clean Air Act since it was enacted."
"It will get rid of the old coal-fired power plants," Whitman said.
Whitman came out to help Lingle during the former Maui mayor's unsuccessful 1998 campaign for governor.
"This year we have more women running for office, particularly women running for governor, than we have ever had before," Whitman said.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Aggie Kamana wore a “Democrats for Lingle” T-shirt yesterday as she waved a sign for gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle by the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, where Lingle met EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman for a rally.
She will also be taking part in Children's Health Month activities here, but the Lingle campaign and the local GOP are paying for the political portions of Whitman's visit.
Lingle's fund-raiser drew a broad cross-section of supporters, including several Democrats and former Democrats.
Bernadette Chase, who described herself as a "lifelong Democrat" said she switched to help Lingle.
"I saw something in Linda that was different. I am related to (former Gov. John) Waihee," Chase said. "I am looking for someone who would put that trust back in the executive office."
Another supporter, Mike Yee, an environmental consultant, said both his parents were state civil servants, and he is supporting Lingle because he is concerned about public education.
"I have two kids and another on the way, so I want the public schools to improve," Yee said.
