Lingle challenger
has yet to appear

Dods, Case and Mayor Kim
rule out a run for governor

In about two months, Hawaii Democrats should have a clear picture of who will run for governor against Republican Linda Lingle, according to Brickwood Galuteria, Democratic Party chairman.

After both retired banker Walter Dods and U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, told Galuteria that neither would run for governor, Galuteria said he has been talking to other potential candidates.

Hawaii's Democratic Party, which controls the state House and Senate and the federal congressional delegation, lost the governorship for the first time in 40 years when Lingle won in 2002.

With high voter approval numbers, a high public profile and a strong political organization, Lingle appears formidable in the 2006 election.

"We hope by the end of the summer that we will have someone or at least a group of people we will be talking to," Galuteria said.

Sam Aiona, the GOP chairman, discounted the importance of the Democrats not having a candidate yet.

"We can't read too much into it," Aiona said. "We are expecting a tough race; they held onto the seat for 40 years, and they want it back."

To sound out all possible candidates, Galuteria even checked several months ago to see if Republican Big Island Mayor Harry Kim was interested in running as a Democrat against Lingle, Galuteria said.

"I talked to Harry a long time ago. He has no intentions of running for governor. He has his own challenges and that was no surprise," Galuteria said.

The party chairman, completing his first year as head of the state party, said he has also been asked to consider running himself.

"Certainly, I would love to. In talking to some people, it is a compliment to think I had the faculties to lead Hawaii.

"It would be presumptuous for a first-term chairman of the party to toss my hat into the ring. I don't see myself doing it this time," Galuteria said.

The Democrats' candidate, Galuteria said, should be someone "who understands Hawaii and its diversity.

"We are almost moving back to the plantation days of the haves and the have-nots. We should have someone who has the trust of the people -- legislative experience would be good, but if he or she surrounds herself with good people, it is not necessary," Galuteria said.

Previously, Rep. Kirk Caldwell (D, Manoa) and Mike McCartney, executive director of PBS Hawaii, have said they were considering the campaign. Also, Tony Gill, a labor attorney, and Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) have expressed an interest in the race for governor.

Galuteria said that in the year he has been party chairman, he has been able to strengthen the Democratic Party, which was staggered after losing the governorship to a Republican.

"When you lose something like the governor's office, it is something of a shakeout process," Galuteria said.

With extra funds expected from the national Democratic Party, Galuteria said he plans to expand the local organization.

First, the Democrats have named a new executive director, Pohai Ryan, former Kailua Chamber of Commerce executive director, and are looking for a political director and a technology director.

"Also, we want a political director, a finance director and a communications director," Galuteria added.