[ OUR OPINION ]
NEIL Abercrombie seeks re-election to his seventh full term in the U.S. House of Representatives pointing to what he calls three basics: seniority, credibility and experience. Those ingredients have helped Abercrombie become a valuable public servant, focusing his efforts in areas that are especially important to Hawaii. That yeoman's service to the state merits his continued service in Congress. Abercrombie works
to improve Hawaii
THE ISSUE Neil Abercrombie is favored to win re-election to the U.S. House from the First District.
With Senator Inouye as chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee on defense, Abercrombie regards himself as Inouye's "partner" in the House, steering proposed expenditures in Hawaii through the armed services subcommittee on military installations and facilities, where he is the ranking Democrat. He takes credit for securing $460 million in military construction contracts for Hawaii, in addition to other military expenditures.
Abercrombie also is the ranking Democrat on the House resources subcommittee on fisheries conservation, wildlife and oceans, which involves him in legislation on such issues as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and coral reef protection.
If the Democratic Party were to take control of the House, Abercrombie would be offered the chairmanship of one of those two subcommittees; he says he would prefer to head the armed services subcommittee because of its importance to Hawaii. In the meantime, he prides himself on his ability to work with either party to further projects important to his urban Honolulu district.
Abercrombie is willing to bolt the party's ranks to take positions that benefit Hawaii. Only four months ago, he voted to repeal the federal estate tax, which he says harms small family businesses.
This newspaper hasn't always agreed with Abercrombie in the past. On many issues, he is at the left edge of the Democratic Party. He cast votes against the Patriot Act and is skeptical of a new Department of Homeland Security sought by President Bush. During the Clinton administration, he opposed military intervention in Kosovo and other foreign venues and voted against the welfare reform bill proposed and signed into law by the president.
But those occasional votes on the House floor are cast along with 434 votes by other members and generally are of little consequence. The bulk of any worthy House member's time is spent on issues of particular importance to his or her district. For the most part of every day, Abercrombie is doing a good job for Hawaii.
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THE death of U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink only a week after her Democratic nomination for re-election has turned the general election into a preliminary round for her seat in the next Congress. Mink, who won re-election two years ago by a 2-to-1 ratio, is expected to win this time posthumously, triggering a special election in January. We will wait for that process to unfold before making an endorsement. Prolonged race likely
for congressional seat
THE ISSUE Uncertainty over Second District seat is expected to last until January.
Mink served in the House for 24 years over two stretches and was highly popular with her constituents in the Second District, which encompasses the neighbor islands and rural Oahu. There is little doubt that she again will receive the majority of votes, many in tribute to her years of public service.
State law requires that special elections be scheduled at least 60 days in advance. Since the need for such an election will not occur until next Tuesday, the earliest it can be scheduled is Jan. 4. Fortunately, Congress, which normally convenes on Jan. 3, has scheduled its session to begin the following Monday, Jan. 6. That will allow the winner of Hawaii's special election to be sworn in at the same time as other members of the House, avoiding being penalized by seniority rules.
Among those expressing interest in running for the seat are state Rep. Ed Case, who finished second to Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono in the Democratic gubernatorial primary election, former Gov. John Waihee, state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and state Rep. Bob McDermott, the Republican nominee who realizes he has little chance of victory next week. Remnants of the gubernatorial general election also may produce candidates for the House seat.
The late withdrawal of incumbent Robert G. Torricelli from the U.S. Senate race in New Jersey and the recent death of Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., have shown how other states handle similar situations. In those states, the Democratic Party was allowed to choose last-minute replacement candidates.
Hawaii's law, which makes it difficult for political party hierarchies to decide who should be nominees for high office, is preferable. Such decisions should be made by voters.
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