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On Politics Richard Borreca |
Hamakawa’s Capitol
days may be overRunning the House Judiciary Committee is always a perilous honor, but for Rep. Eric Hamakawa it apparently has just become too much.
The Big Island Democrat has quietly been telling selected legislators and supporters that he will not seek re-election. First elected in 1994 to replace long-time Hilo Democrat Harvey Tajiri, Hamakawa has had an easy time in his five elections, except for 2002.
That year Hamakawa was opposed by Andy Smith, 30, a former Holsum bread manager and University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball star. With encouragement from Gov. Linda Lingle, who appointed Smith her East Hawaii liaison, the young Republican has bounced back this year for another try and is already walking the Hilo district.
Although Smith won't speculate on why Hamakawa is out of the race, he thinks Hamakawa's positions as one of the strong liberal Democrats in the House and Judiciary chairman have made him a political liability.
"He had the chance to step up to the plate and get things done, but under Hamakawa, we have taken several steps back," Smith said, referring to Hamakawa's crime package. Lingle has criticized the Democrat's anti-drug bills, saying they didn't include needed provisions for police and prosecutors to fight drug dealers.
Hamakawa hasn't returned phone calls about his plans, but a close political ally, Clifford Tsuji, a well-known retired Central Pacific Bank senior vice president, who is now VP of Hilo Candy Company Inc., is running as a Democrat and confirmed that Hamakawa won't run.
Interestingly, while Hama-kawa was telling supporters that he was leaving politics, he also was taking trips to Germany and Chicago designed to help him next year in the Legislature.
He was a guest of the National Conference on State Legislatures' parliamentary exchange program in Germany from May 16 to 29 and then was with the State Legislative Leadership Foundation in Chicago from June 10 to 13.
Don't bother calling Hamakawa's office now to find out what he learned, his office on Friday said he will "be out of the office until mid-July."
Hamakawa's legislative adversaries, such as Republican Sen. Sam Slom, bluntly said "Good riddance," when informed that Hamakawa was not standing for re-election.
"Hamakawa was a real impediment to reasoned law enforcement in this state," Slom says.
"He never tried to work with groups or individuals to seek a compromise. ... It has been consistent that anti-crime bills that passed the Senate were then stopped in his (Judiciary) Committee," Slom continued.
To be fair, Hamakawa's Senate counterpart, Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, thinks the state loses with Hamakawa out.
"He will be a tremendous loss to the Legislature, with strong opinions and a voice that is necessary," Hanabusa said.
Earlier this year Hamakawa seemed to be growing into the job and attempting to communicate his positions on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to death with dignity, but by the end of the session he was relying on the unwavering Democratic majority rule to push his programs without explanation.
A closed office door makes an understandable final good-bye.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Richard Borreca writes on politics every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached at 525-8630 or by e-mail at rborreca@starbulletin.com.