Election came down to best personality
The governor's election was not about Republicans against Democrats, left against right, conservatives against liberals; it was about personality.Linda Lingle simply came across as the more sophisticated, competent candidate and statesman (or -woman, excuse me, ah, -person, I mean) able to lead our state, as compared to the well-meaning, nice, but mediocre and presumably less effective Mazie Hirono. I based my decision on that and probably the majority of the voters did, too.
Volker Hildebrandt
Kaneohe
Gabbard won with underhanded tactics
I estimate I've just participated in my 14th or 15th election. I have never experienced such a negative campaign as that waged by newly elected City Councilman Mike Gabbard.Based on the amount of campaign literature I received, Gabbard easily outspent his chief competitor, Pam Witty-Oakland, by 5 to 1. The problem is, a lot of his campaign literature lacked substance, and instead contained personal attacks against Witty-Oakland. According to a Star-Bulletin article ("Gabbard campaign brochure draws protests from ministers," Nov. 5), Gabbard misled, then misrepresented clergy from different denominations in one of his fliers, which falsified Witty-Oakland's views on certain issues related to religion.
Mel McKeague
Ewa Beach
It's time to act, and we'll be watching
I'd like to thank the politicians who helped me decide who to vote for during the election. I spoke to many of you personally, and I thought I had my mind made up, then ... boom! Thanks to negative campaigning by you or your party, you lost my respect and my vote.Congratulations to those of you who won your races, but the time to talk is over. Now's the time to do something positive for Hawaii. If you can't do what you said you would in this term, the only running you should do from now on is running to stay in shape.
I will be watching, and I will remember.
Kevin Y. Uyeda
Mililani
Bring Clinton back for special election
A Republican governor in Hawaii? A resounding Republican showing to control Congress? I guess we now know how much power Bill Clinton has to turn out the vote ... against Democrats. I'll start the fund to get him out here for the special election; Republicans would love to have that seat, too. The voters have spoken and seen through the demagoguery and deception of so many Democratic campaigns.Dan Morin
How will Lingle work with the Democrats?
Your Nov. 1 endorsement editorial said, "While she seeks no confrontation with organized labor, (Linda) Lingle calls for a comprehensive audit of the state's finances and an improvement in government efficiency. Should she achieve those goals, state workers would be ... able to take pride in helping Hawaii to shed its anti-business image and to regain its economic health. To accept this opportunity for change is not to reject the accomplishments and achievements of the past, but to tailor them for success in a new century."Lingle will be working with a Democrat-controlled House and Senate. What will she use to persuade them to pass the legislation she wants? Hypnosis?
Like her benefactor, George W. Bush, our appointed president, Lingle wants to give control of our economy to the already filthy rich. Let's get real.
Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Big Island
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