12 U.S. House hopefuls do fast talking on TV

A UH political scientist praises the performances of Schatz, Hee, Hanabusa and Zuiker

With just five minutes to make their case, the 12 candidates running for the 2nd Congressional District did their best last night to win over voters in the last scheduled televised forum before the Sept. 23 primary election.

During a fast-paced 90 minutes, candidates addressed topics ranging from the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's fiscal policies to the conditions of Hawaii's public schools and local gas prices.

Candidates seemed rushed at times in trying to make their points in quick 90-second sound bites, but largely stuck to the issues without resorting to personal attacks.

"Most of them did what they had to do in a short period of time and did it pretty well," said Neal Milner, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. "The fact that they only had a short period of time made it more authentic."

Democrats were largely critical of the current GOP Congress and the Bush administration, particularly the progress of the war in Iraq and the conditions that led to U.S. involvement.

But candidates also stressed the need for help at the federal level in dealing with Hawaii's aging roads and highways, crumbling public schools and emergency preparedness.

"Some candidates were better at getting across a kind of identification of what they wanted with how they want people to see them both in terms of policy as well as style," Milner said.

Democrats who did well, Milner said, included state Rep. Brian Schatz, state Sens. Colleen Hanabusa and Clayton Hee, and political newcomer Joe Zuiker, an attorney and marathon runner who has run, literally, around the islands touting his ideas.

"You try to be decisive in identifying yourself with a certain characteristic, a certain theme and a certain style, and you don't have much time to do it," Milner said. "I think the candidates I mentioned were all good."

The other Democrats in the race are state Sens. Gary Hooser and Ron Menor, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga, Honolulu City Councilman Nestor Garcia and former biotech company executive Hanalei Aipoalani.

Milner said he felt both Republicans -- state Sen. Bob Hogue and former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa -- did well in that regard. Hogue painted himself as the candidate who represents the "Average Joe," while Kawananakoa stressed the need for Hawaii to send a member of the majority party to Capitol Hill.

Audience members, who included Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, said they appreciated the opportunity to weigh the candidates together.

"I think Hawaii has a lot of great candidates," said Tom Farrell, a supporter of Matsunaga who lives in Honolulu and cannot vote in the district. "I really don't see the race coming out wrong.

"I think the undecided voter probably has a much tougher time now."

Hannemann, who was interviewed during the live broadcast, agreed.

"I think we learned a lot tonight," he said. "I think this is an excellent forum to at least see them all at one time."

The forum, sponsored by the Pacific Resource Partnership, a union carpentry trade group, was televised live statewide by KGMB9. It was held at the 1,400-seat Hawaii Theatre. Each of the candidates was allotted 100 tickets. The rest were distributed to guests of Pacific Resource Partnership and students from throughout the 2nd Congressional District.