[ OUR OPINION ]
These candidates deserve
your vote
Bainum possesses both the practical skills
and vision to be Honolulu's new mayor
Voters in the primary election today will either winnow the field of candidates for Honolulu mayor or elect someone outright should he or she receive more than 50 percent of the ballots cast.
The Star-Bulletin has endorsed Duke Bainum for the top post at City Hall. Bainum possesses not only the analytic skills needed to guide Honolulu in lean fiscal times, but also a sense of its potential to become a beautiful and vibrant place.
The parochial view handicaps Bainum because his roots aren't in native soil, but he has embraced Hawaii as his home. He has established a medical practice here, made friends here and, most importantly, Bainum has plunged himself into public service when doing so can be demanding and strenuous.
Being mayor of the 11th largest city in the nation is no easy task, but we believe Bainum's experience as a former member of the City Council and a state legislator, his connections to community and business organizations and his commitment to smart growth, the environment and urban revitalization make him the right man to lead Honolulu into the future.
Carlisle's drive and independence
have earned him another term
as city prosecutor
Peter Carlisle's cool-headed professionalism has served him well in his eight years as city prosecutor. A consummate law-and-order man with impeccable credentials, he has clearly earned another term in office.
Carlisle has directed his office to work independently, ignoring the influence and leverage of movers and shakers, tackling lawbreakers despite their high-placed connections. That has included prosecuting numerous cases of illegal campaign contributions to political candidates.
He has the respect of political leaders, the business community, his deputies and staff and the community that depends on him to put away the bad guys. His leadership has been enhanced by his personal prosecution of several cases, such as the trial of Byran Uyesugi for the murder of seven fellow Xerox employees five years ago.
At the same time, his compassion helps him look beyond law enforcement as the only antidote to Honolulu's crime problems, endorsing drug treatment and education for young people to steer them in the right direction.
The Star-Bulletin urges voters to put their marks next to his name on the ballot today.
