Case-Akaka race fuels stream of absentee votes

Many Republicans cross party lines to make their choice

Sean Ross usually votes in the Republican primary, but he crossed party lines yesterday to vote for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

And Republican voter Bernie Nii said she was voting for U.S. Rep. Ed Case, even though "Sen. Akaka did a great job, but he should hand it over."

"Us old-timers get a narrower view as we get older, and the younger ones have a wider focus," Nii said.

Republicans voting for Democrats? Not as strange as it might sound, since two of the most important races in the 2006 primary election happen to be on the Democratic ticket, and Hawaii voters want their say. Akaka is being challenged by Case, and 13 people want Case's seat in the 2nd Congressional District.

Yesterday marked the first day to vote absentee, and many of the voters interviewed by the Star-Bulletin had plenty of reasons for their choices.

And they kept polling centers humming throughout the day at City Hall, Kapolei Hale, Pearlridge Center and Windward Mall.

"There were lines when all four places opened,'' Honolulu City Clerk Denise De Costa said.

Many voters, even Republicans, said they were taking Democratic ballots so they could vote in the two federal elections.

At Windward Mall, Ross, a supervisor with Hawaiian Airlines, said he usually votes in the Republican primary but took a Democratic ballot this year "because I wanted to vote for Akaka."

"I want to be sure he stays in office," Ross said.

Other Republicans, however, were jumping the party fence to vote for Case.

A retired schoolteacher at the Pearlridge Center said she also usually votes GOP, but this year, she voted Democratic so she could vote for Case.

"I weighed the pros and cons, and Case can speak for us. He has youth on his side," said the retiree, who asked not to be identified.

"I usually vote Republican, but this year, a lot of my friends are also voting for Case," she said.

A retired police officer who lives in the "old section of Waipahu" did not think Case was "a die-hard Democrat," he said. "A lot of Republicans will vote for him, even though he is a Democrat."

"Akaka is a nice old man, but after all of these years, I can't tell you a thing he has done," the former policeman said.

In Kapolei, Robynne Mobley, a sales executive, reported being disappointed with what she said was the negative tone of the Case-Akaka race.

"I don't like that negative energy. I think Case had better verbiage, but I voted for Akaka because I admire his values and his honesty," Mobley said.

One Kapolei voter, 58 and retired, said he votes, but "I don't believe nobody."

Ron, who declined to give his last name, said, "They all have been talking about education since statehood, and nothing has been done yet."

Akaka appeared to benefit from voters who have known him for much of his 30 years in office.

One Kaneohe voter, a retired federal worker, recalled having seen both Akaka and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye at the downtown Honolulu federal building.

"I am an Akaka supporter. I know Akaka and Inouye and I like them both," he said.

At City Hall, Polly Seto, a travel and real estate executive, said she voted for Akaka and was helping him on the campaign. "I think the choice is clear. I have known him for years, and I think he should continue to represent us," she said.

Also voting downtown was a court mediator from Waipio who said she investigated both candidates and decided to vote for Case.

"I talked with him personally, and I believe he can take Hawaii to a different place, but I was not an early supporter of Case," she said.

A Windward couple, Kin and Jennifer Lo, said they were voting for Case -- even though Jennifer Lo said she supported Akaka at first.

"I had a really hard time with my vote. Akaka's perspective is more in line with my point of view," she said.

"I watched the debate, and I think Hawaii is ready for change. The debate changed my mind, and I am comfortable with Case as a Democrat," she said.

Another Democrat, John Brown, a manager at Papa John's Pizza, said he has gone to several coffee hours for Akaka and heard Akaka speak and voted for him.

"I am active in the Democratic Party, and I have no doubt that Case will be defeated," Brown said.