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U.S. House campaign
gets more aggressive

Former law partners
Matsunaga and Case take the
gloves off over new TV ads

2nd Congressional District polling places


By Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.com

Saturday's special election for Congress has become more aggressive and personal with Matt Matsunaga now running ads criticizing his former law partner and fellow Democratic candidate Ed Case.

Case calls the ads "misleading."

"Negative campaigning is a reflection of character," Case said. "I certainly don't think negative campaigning is appropriate."

Matsunaga said the ads are not negative but rather "comparative," and that he is "letting the voters know where we differ on issues."

Matsunaga said an ad that ran in neighbor island papers highlighted four issues: better pay for public school teachers, prepaid health insurance, same-sex marriage and decriminalizing marijuana. Matsunaga is also running television ads on the teacher pay, health insurance and marijuana and sending out a mailer about the health insurance issue.

Case and Matsunaga are among the 44 candidates who are vying to fill the next term of the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, who died on Sept. 28 but won re-election posthumously on Nov. 5.

Case now represents the 2nd Congressional district after winning a Nov. 30 special election to fill the remaining weeks of Mink's current term.

Matsunaga said he favored, but Case voted against, a bill that would increase pay for teachers based on length of service. The bill did not pass last session.

Case said it is "dead wrong" that he is opposed to teacher salary increases. He said he voted against the bill because it involved step-pay increases that should be negotiated in collective bargaining rather than put into law.

Matsunaga also cites a bill supported by Case that would limit the employer's share of health insurance to half of the cost. Current law requires employers to pay more than 50 percent of the cost if it is more than 1.5 percent of the employee's wages.

Case said people are losing jobs or being put into part-time status because of the high cost of prepaid health insurance and the bill was designed to encourage a discussion on the issue.

On same-sex marriage, Matsunaga says Case opposed putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that allowed voters to decide whether the Legislature should ban gay marriage.

Matsunaga sponsored the amendment and a reciprocal-benefits bill that would give same-sex couples some of the financial benefits of marriage. He said he wanted voters to make the decision on whether or not the Legislature should ban gay marriage, even though he did not want the amendment to pass.

Case said he did oppose amending the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, but "since the amendment was put on the ballot, the people spoke and from my perspective the decision has been made."

Case said he was willing to take a stand on an unpopular issue based on principle and challenged Matsunaga to do the same.

"He's always portrayed himself as a legislator concerned about civil rights," Case said. "He can't have his cake and eat it, too. He needs to make a choice here."

Matsunaga's ad says he favors permitting marijuana use for medicinal purposes, while Case is in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.

"I never said I outright favored decriminalization," Case said. But he said he does think the real drug problem in Hawaii is crystal meth, or ice, and it is time to discuss whether "too many of our resources are going into a drug that is not the major problem in our state. Resources otherwise used to eliminate ice are poured down the drain of a drug which is harmful but certainly not in the league of ice."

Matsunaga said he's running the ads against his former law partner because people want to know the difference between him and Case on issues.

He and Case were members of the same firm for 17 years.

"We are friends, but just like when you play basketball and step on the court, you play your hardest and I'm sure Ed is playing his hardest, too," Matsunaga said.

Case says he is "surprised, disappointed and hurt," by Matsunaga's ads. "He is clearly not the person that I thought he was."


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2nd Congressional District polling places

Here are the reduced number of polling places for the special election. Precincts that have been consolidated with other precincts are marked with a dot under the actual polling place. All polling places are preceded by their district and precinct numbers:

COUNTY OF HAWAII

01 01 Ikuo Hisaoka Gym 54-3853 Akoni Pule Highway

01 04 Honokaa High School cafeteria 45-527 Pakalana St.

01 05 Paauilo Elementary School cafeteria 43-1497 Old Main Road

01 07 Laupahoehoe Community-School Library 35-2065 Mamalahoa Highway

01 08 Honohina Hongwanji Social Hall 32-896 Mamalahoa Highway

01 10 Honomu Gym 28-1641 Old Mamalahoa Hwy.

01 11 Kulaimano Community Center Hall 28-2892 Alia St.

01 12 Kalanianaole Elem/Inter School Cafeteria 27-330 Mamalahoa Highway

01 13 Puueo Multi-Culture Center Hall 145 Wainaku St.

02 01 Ernest B. DeSilva Elementary School cafeteria 278 Ainako Ave.

02 03 Hilo High School cafeteria 556 Waianuenue Ave.

02 04 St. Joseph High School Gym 439 Kapiolani St.

02 06 Keaukaha Elementary School cafeteria 240 Desha Ave.

03 01 Waiakea Uka Gym 1200 Ainaola Drive

03 04 Waiakea High School cafeteria 155 W Kawili St

03 07 Waiakeawaena Elementary School cafeteria 2420 Kilauea Ave

04 02 Keaau High School SBG Mtg Rm 16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Road

04 03 Hawaiian Paradise Community Center Makuu Drive

04 06 Pahoa High School cafeteria 15-3038 Puna Road

05 01 Mountain View Elementary School cafeteria 18-1235 New Volcano Hwy.

05 03 Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Road

05 04 Kau High Sch Cafeteria 96-3150 Pikake St.

05 06 Ocean View Community Center 92-8924 Leilani Circle

05 07 Milolii Halau Pavilion Milolii

05 10 Honaunau Elementary School cafeteria 83-5360 Mamalahoa Highway

05 11 Konawaena High School cafeteria 81-1043 Konawaena Sch. Rd.

06 02 Kahakai Elementary School cafeteria 76-147 Royal Poinciana Drive

06 04 Kona Imin Center 76-5877 Mamalahoa Highway

06 06 Kealakehe Elementary School cafeteria 74-5118 Kealakaa St.

07 01 Kealakehe High School cafeteria 74-5000 Puohulihuli St.

07 02 Kona Palisades Community Ctr 73-1073 Ka Imi Nani Drive

07 03 Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria 68-1730 Hooko St.

07 05 Waimea Elem/Inter Sch Cafeteria 67-1225 Mamalahoa Highway

COUNTY OF KAUAI

14 02 Kilauea Neighborhood Center Meeting Room 2460 Keneke St.

14 05 St. Catherine School Parish Hall 5021 Kawaihau Road

15 01 Kapaa Middle School cafeteria 4867 Olohena Road

15 04 Kauai High School cafeteria 3577 Lala Road

15 06 Koloa Neighborhood Center Meeting Room 3461 Weliweli Road

16 03 Kalaheo Elementary School (Kato Gym) 4400 Maka Road

16 04 Eleele Elem School cafeteria 4855 Melemele Road

16 07 Waimea Neighborhood Center Meeting Room 4556 Makeke Road

16 09 Niihau Elementary/High School Niihau

COUNTY OF MAUI

08 03 Baldwin High School cafeteria 1650 Kaahumanu Ave.

08 05 Wailuku Elementary School cafeteria 355 S High St.

09 03 Lihikai Elementary School cafeteria 335 S. Papa Ave.

09 05 Kahului Elementary School cafeteria 410 S. Hina Ave.

10 02 King Kamehameha III Elem. School cafeteria 611 Front St.

10 03 Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria 871 Lahainaluna Road

10 06 Honolua United Methodist Church Room 5110 Kohi St.

11 02 Kaumalii Elementary School cafeteria 180 Alanui Ke Alii St.

11 04 Kihei Elementary School cafeteria 250 E Lipoa St.

11 05 Trinity Episcopal Church by the Sea Hall 100 Kulanihakoi St.

12 01 Kalama Intermediate School cafeteria 120 Makani Road

12 04 Mayor Hannibal Tavares Comm. Center Hall 91 Pukalani St.

12 06 Kula Elementary School cafeteria 5000 Kula Highway

13 03 Haiku Community Center 1008 Hana Highway

13 06 Hana High/Elementary School cafeteria 4111 Hana Highway

13 07 Lanai High/Elementary School cateteria 555 Fraser Ave.

13 09 Kaunakakai School cafeteria 30 Ailoa St.

13 12 Kalaupapa Settlement Hall County of Kalawao

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

39 01 Helemano Elementary School cafeteria 1001 Ihi Ihi Ave.

39 03 Leilehua High School cafeteria 1515 California Ave.

39 04 Wahiawa Middle School cafeteria 275 Rose St.

40 02 Kapolei Elem School cafeteria 91-1159 Kamaaha Loop

40 04 Makakilo Elementary School cafeteria 92-675 Anipeahi St.

41 05 Kaleiopuu Elementary School cafeteria 94-665 Kaaholo St

44 01 Kamokila Park Recreation Center 91-015 Farrington Hwy.

44 03 Nanaikapono Elementary School cafeteria 89-195 Farrington Hwy.

44 04 Maili Elementary School cafeteria 87-360 Kulaaupuni St.

45 02 Waianae Intermediate School cafeteria 85-626 Farrington Hwy.

45 04 Makaha Elementary School cafeteria 84-760 Lahaina St.

46 01 Del Monte Gym Kunia

46 04 Haleiwa Elementary School cafeteria 66-505 Haleiwa Road

46 05 Sunset Beach Elementary School cafeteria 59-360 Kamehameha Hwy.

46 06 Kahuku High/Intermediate School cafeteria 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy.

46 07 Laie Elementary School cafeteria 55-109 Kulanui St.

47 01 Hauula Elementary School cafeteria 54-046 Kamehameha Hwy.

47 02 Kahaluu Elementary School cafeteria 47-280 Waihee Road

47 06 Ahuimanu Elementary School cafeteria 47-470 Hui Aeko Place

48 01 Heeia Elementary School cafeteria 46-202 Haiku Road

48 03 Castle High School cafeteria 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive

48 04 Kaneohe Elementary School cafeteria 45-495 Kamehameha Hwy.

48 05 Windward Community College Room 102 45-720 Keaahala Road

49 01 Enchanted Lake Elementary School cafeteria 770 Keolu Drive

49 03 Maunawili Elementary School cafeteria 1465 Ulupii St.

49 07 Benjamin Parker Elementary School cafeteria 45-259 Waikalua Road

50 03 Kailua Intermediate School cafeteria 145 S Kainalu Drive

50 04 Kailua Elementary School cafeteria 315 Kuulei Road

50 05 Kainalu Elementary School cafeteria 165 Kaiholu St.

51 02 Waimanalo Elem./Inter. School cafeteria 41-1330 Kalanianaole Hwy.

51 05 Keolu Elementary School cafeteria 1416 Keolu Drive



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