Head of GOP in Hawai'i confident she will be state's next governor
By Bob Dye
Kailua-based historian and writer
"What's the biggest problem facing Hawai'i's Democratic Party?" I ask her. Without batting an eye, Linda Lingle, head of the GOP, says, "Lack of vision."
Does she say that because Gov. Ben Cayetano lacks any? She thinks the cause runs deeper than Ben.
We met for lunch at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Garden Cafe. I got there first. Nobody glances up at yet another hoary-haired old man; the place is full of them and their female minders. But when she enters the tented area, heads turn. Linda Lingle is somebody they know and like. Their response disputes my thought, that she has every political talent, save glamour.
I offer a glass of wine.
"A Diet Coke, please."
"So, you're a teetotaler," I say.
"If that's what they call it."
By the way she answers, I can't tell if she imbibes or not. That's the politician in her, keeping us snoops out of her private life. But there's no hint in her voice that she would rather head the Prohibition Party.
I breathe easier, for she has the formidable political skills to dry up this place. They were honed by serving on the Maui County Council for 10 years, and as mayor of Maui County for two terms. Although she lost in her bid to unseat Governor Ben in 1998, by about 5,000 votes, she is convinced she will prevail in 2002.
Though trained as a journalist in California, she sounds and looks more like the captain of a championship debate team. Her costume — tan jacket, white blouse and black slacks — is professional-looking. Its subsidiary frills are minimal. Posture is straight-up, voice modulated, and language precise. Thoughts and emotions are well under control. She reminds me of Mayor Jeremy Harris, her probable opponent.
Lingle steps back to observe the progress of the GOP, detaching herself from this day's political fray. Profoundly aware that any successful political movement is continuous, she describes the contradictions in her party and tells how she has reconciled them, through discussion and deliberation, so it can advance. Goals are enumerated in a mission statement. The GOP plans to make Hawai'i a two-party state. And soon.
Although her eye is on the governor's race next year, she is now a candidate for re-election as chair of the state Republican Party. That election is a lock. The top party post will keep her in the news until she formally announces her candidacy.
And that job legitimatizes her appearances at the Legislature to push the GOP agenda.
"All too frequently!" claims Walter Heen, chairman of the Democratic Party. He publicly chides his GOP counterpart for personally field-commanding muscle-flexing Republican forces, intimating that Republican legislators can't think for themselves.
"We work closely with Linda on caucus positions," says Galen Fox, the House minority leader. "We are few in number, so it's important to be unified. Linda is a high-profile leader."
State Sen. Sam Slom says, "We seek input from everyone in the community. We'd love to have Linda as the 20th Republican senator, and that day isn't far off."
Lingle responds modestly, "They call me, I don't call them."
She senses that voters are fed up with a political system dominated for so long by Democrats. Because of that perceived unhappiness, she believes the GOP will be able to increase its number of legislators in the next election.
"With our party's recent successes, it's now much easier to recruit candidates," she says.
If one or more vacancies occur on the scandal-ridden Honolulu City Council, she'll campaign to get Republicans seated in those nonpartisan chairs.
In races for the U.S. House, she says, there will be serious challenges of the two Democratic incumbents, Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink. Popular state legislator Barbara Marumoto is being encouraged by Lingle to take on Abercrombie. Outgoing Kaua'i mayor Maryanne Kusaka has expressed a sincere interest in challenging Mink.
Lingle finishes the Diet Coke, abstemiously refuses a second, and asks, instead, for a glass of water. But she doesn't say no to the chocolate torte.
"What will be Gov. Cayetano's legacy?" I ask.
Known never to be at a loss for words, she thinks long and hard. Finally, she says, "I don't know."
