A new organizing principle for politics

By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

It was fascinating to watch the political reaction to the announcement last week by Mazie Hirono that she has decided to abandon her campaign for governor.

Some saw it as the death of a political dynasty that has been chugging along in Hawai'i since 1962, when John A. Burns was elected governor. Others, who have suffered numerous defeats at the hands of the "machine," such as Frank Fasi, saw it simply as the latest maneuver by a tough and cynical political operation.

But what all reactions had in common was that this was — in some way or another — once again about the Democratic Party dynasty.

There's good reason for that. From the day Burns was elected in '62, every person elected governor was a sitting Democratic governor or leiutenant governor. Outsiders need not apply.

Viewed from afar, this looks like a well-oiled political machine. Up close, it was anything but that. Burns was challenged, rather bitterly, by his second-term lieutenant governor, Tom Gill. In turn, Burns successor George Ariyoshi was challenged by his lieutenant governor, Jean King. He also had a less-than-successful relationship with another lieutenant governor, Nelson Doi, who quit to run unsuccessfully for mayor of Honolulu.

Ariyoshi finally ended up with a lieutenant governor who could keep his distance, John Waihee. And he succeeded Ariyoshi. Waihee had as his lieutenant governor Ben Cayetano. It wasn't until quite late in the second term before Cayetano began distancing himself, which was apparently enough to keep the chain of succession going.

Hirono followed Waihee's model, only recently beginning to put political distance between herself and the boss.

So it seemed only natural that she was poised to repeat the trick once again. Hirono has been remarkably vague about why she gave up a race she seemed destined to run. But whether she was pushed out or simply opted to grab a more viable political option, one thing is clear:

Our next governor — for the first time in just about 40 years — will come from a different political tradition.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. Ed Case makes a point of the fact that he is from a different political heritage. And even if a Jeremy Harris or D. G. "Andy" Anderson cut a deal with the old coalition, things will be forever different.

And of course, Republicans Linda Lingle and former state Sen. John Carroll bring a completely different perspective and background to the table.

In some ways, the continuing presence of the Democratic dynasty or machine served the same role as the Cold War did in national and international politics: It was a familiar construct through which to view the world. Everyone knew their role and where they stood.

Now, all that's changed. Just as we have struggled to find something to replace the Cold War as an organizing principle, so too will Hawai'i have to find something new to replace the Democratic Party dynasty.

Reach Jerry Burris through letters@honoluluadvertiser.com.