Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry shook hands with former Democratic presidential primary candidate Howard Dean yesterday in Portland, Ore., on the day of Oregon's primary election. Dean will be making a stop in Hawaii next week.
Isle Democrats book
Dean for conventionThe former governor of Vermont
will make a short stop to deliver
the keynote address
Howard Dean, former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, is making a 24-hour stop in Hawaii next week to give the keynote address at the Hawaii Democratic Party convention.
The former Vermont governor will appear before the convention at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel on May 29.
In the Hawaii presidential primary preference poll earlier this year, Dean came in fourth, behind Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Rep. Gary Kucinich of Ohio and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. Dean had already dropped out of the race by the time of the caucus.
Joshua Wisch, who headed the Dean campaign in Hawaii, said Dean was the only candidate to endorse the Hawaiian sovereignty bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
"We are thrilled we were able to get him," Wisch said.
Although Dean did not campaign in Hawaii, he came here in November when the remains believed to be those of his brother who disappeared 30 years ago in Laos were returned to the United States in a repatriation ceremony at Hickam Air Force Base.
Alex Santiago, state Democratic Party chairman, said he tried to get several major Democratic national figures to come to Hawaii, including Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, but Dean was the only who could fit the trip into his schedule. Dean arrives on May 28 and is expected to leave the next evening.
"Because the Howard Dean campaign in Hawaii was so active, I was happy they put in an extra effort to get him to come," Santiago said. "Nationally, he (Dean) has shown that he is a big draw. He will pull in the very solid Democrats to rally all the troops."
The Dean speech won't be the only excitement for the Democrats, Santiago said.
There is a two-way race for party chairman because Santiago is stepping down. Radio and television personality Brickwood Galuteria is opposed by Oahu Democratic Party Chairman Jimmy Toyama.
Also there is a race for national committeeman between former party Chairman Richard Port and Maui County Chairman Jonathan Starr.
The Democrats also will elect delegates to the July national convention in Boston.
