StarBulletin.com

Campaigns focus on Leeward, rail


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POSTED: Tuesday, November 04, 2008

On the last full day of campaigning yesterday, Honolulu's mayoral candidates made their final appeals to voters across the island, with a focus on the Leeward Coast, as both continue to fight over the city's multibillion-dollar rail transit system.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his challenger, City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, visited key areas along the city's planned 20-mile elevated rail route, including Kapolei and Dillingham Boulevard in Kalihi, in an election that has revolved around mass transit.

“;I'm going everywhere to get out the vote,”; Hannemann said yesterday. “;All our polls show we're strong in every area. Rail is the one that's dicey and part of that is because of the deliberate misinformation by Ann Kobayashi.”;

While the candidates campaign for themselves, they are also rallying for another critical decision expected today from Oahu voters that will determine the fate of the city's proposed $5 billion rail transit system.

Kobayashi has repeatedly criticized the rail system since her late entrance into the mayor's race this summer.

Kobayashi stopped by several longtime Oahu businesses along Dillingham Boulevard that will likely be affected by the transit system, according to a recently released report.

Kobayashi's campaign called a news conference while she ate at Boulevard Saimin, a restaurant on Dillingham Boulevard built in the 1960s that may have part of its parking lot acquired because of the project.

“;When I heard that they may be impacted and no one knew anything about it, I thought I would come again,”; Kobayashi said. “;No matter what the impact, for a small business, it can be a lot.”;

Both candidates made stops on the Leeward Coast, an area most afflicted with traffic woes. Both candidates focused “;get out the vote”; campaigns from Waianae to Kapolei to Waipahu, areas that had an abysmally low voter turnout in the Sept. 20 primary election. Hannemann had relied on those areas for an outright victory, but was forced into a runoff with less than 50 percent of the vote.

The candidates have bitterly bickered over the rail transit system. Kobayashi released her own $2.5 billion mass-transit plan of elevated highways and an enhanced bus system, a proposal that has not picked up much public support.

With a critical report detailing the project released over the weekend, it gave the candidates renewed ammunition against each other.

“;The city is still using the numbers $3.7 billion for the cost of the system,”; Kobayashi said. “;What's wrong with giving the truth to the taxpayers? Why do we keep manipulating the truth?”;

Hannemann has rejected claims that the city was holding the document or manipulating the information. Hannemann also continues to doubt that Kobayashi's system could receive federal funds as she promises.

“;It's just constant misinformation from a campaign that is trailing badly,”; Hannemann said. “;They're trying to tarnish the work of the (congressional) delegation and the word of my administration.”;