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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 25, 2001

Commentary
Candidate's age plays scant role in voters' decisions

By Bob Dye
Kailua-based writer and historian

A rule of thumb: After 35 and before 65 or 70, unless the political candidate looks and sounds old, age is usually not a factor in an election.

Former Mayor Frank Fasi, 81, shown before a televised debate in September 2000, says his age is a benefit to his candidacy.

Advertiser library photo • Sept. 14, 2000

A pair of high-profile candidates for lofty public office in 2002 are in their 70s, and another one is in his 80s. Will their advanced ages help them, or hurt them in the coming election?

(Disclaimer: This writer makes 73 in a couple of days.)

Case study of a veteran older candidate:

A reporter asked the candidate, "Can a 75-year-old handle the mayor's job?"

His reply: "When you want advice, do you go to a child? If you're picking a football team, maybe I won't qualify. But I think I'll do all right as mayor."

The voters thought so, too. Democratic Honolulu Mayor Johnny Wilson was re-elected in 1948 to a fifth term by 16 votes, at age 76.

In the next election, when his age was even more of an issue, Wilson boasted, "I'll take my opponent on any day in Civic Auditorium for five or six rounds." He won a sixth term by 12,000 votes.

In 1952, the now 80-year-old Wilson won a seventh term, beating a youthful GOP Neal Blaisdell.

But in 1954, age finally caught up with him. He lost in the primary to Democrat Frank Fasi, who was soundly beaten in the general by Blaisdell.

Wilson died at age 84.

Frank Fasi, today a Republican and 81, is campaigning to return to the now nonpartisan mayor's office in Honolulu Hale.

Can an 81-year-old handle the mayor's job? I ask him.

"Moses was 81 before he even got started," Fasi replied. "The pope is my age. Senior Sen. Dan Inouye plans to run again." (Ironically, both Inouye and Fasi suggested that Wilson, when 82, should not run again.)

Now, Fasi points to the benefits of age: "I know where the bodies are buried. I know what to do in any given situation. I have a record of achievement. I'm the only veteran."

"I thought age was a factor with voters until Ronald Reagan came along," says former Advertiser political columnist Dan Tuttle. Nevertheless, he thinks his old friend Frank Fasi should give it up. "I like to see new faces," the 76-year-old says.

"Except for Frank Fasi, chronological age will not be an issue in the coming elections," says political consultant Don Clegg, an adviser to the Jeremy Harris campaign for governor. (Clegg is the guy who gave me the rule of thumb found above.)

Jean King, a former lieutenant governor in charge of elections, observes: "Although in Hawai'i we have a rich legacy of the tradition of respect for kupuna and the Asian reverence of elders, I don't think that's a factor in politics. I think people will vote for or against an individual based on how they judge their track record and view their personalities."

Nevertheless, our graying population is a major voting bloc, and growing. More and more voters personally know that a candidate shouldn't be judged by age alone. Recent census data show Hawai'i had a 69 percent increase in residents over age 85 between 1990 and 2000. The 65-and-over population increased 28.5 percent in that decade. There are now about 161,000 people in Hawai'i over 65.

"Andy" Anderson, 71, will officially announce his candidacy for governor tomorrow. Will his age be a speed-bump on the road to Washington Place?

"Age is wisdom. Age is experience. I'm old enough to have learned from my mistakes," says Anderson.

"Anderson looks good and is vigorous. But he is coming back from the past, and that may work against him," Clegg says. "His supporters appearing on the TV spots are old."

Political scientist Phyllis Turnbull, who is older than Anderson, says, "Andy's age will not be a negative factor in his gubernatorial bid. There are enough other things to call him on."

The youngest announced candidate for governor, 49-year-old Ed Case, says the age of a candidate makes no difference. "Politicians can be rooted in the past regardless of age." But there are others, like the eldest member of the Legislature, Helene Hale, 83, who have "fresh and revolutionary ideas." (Democrat Hale, who represents Puna and Ka'u in the house, is in her first term, and says she will run for re-election.)

"Voters should ask what a candidate has done with his life, and what the candidate believes Hawai'i needs to do," says Case. "Anderson is a politician out of our past, not because of his age but his approach to politics." Like Anderson, gubernatorial candidate Jeremy Harris, although 50, is another "machine politician," he claims. Both of his competitors want to "replicate the status quo."

Patsy Mink turns 74 on Dec. 6. Will age be a factor in her re-election bid for Congress?

Patsy Mink is "an icon," says Tuttle. "Age is not a factor in her race."

Turnbull says Mink's legislative record is "so strong" and she is "so vigorous" that she may not have any serious opposition in the primary election.

Her challenger in the general election, GOP state rep. Bob McDermott, 38, says he will not make Patsy's age an issue.

Wait a minute! His official campaign slogan is: "The energy to be effective."