HGEA endorses Hirono, Anderson
By Bruce Dunford
Associated Press
Saying it can work with either one, the 42,000-member Hawai'i Government Employees Association yesterday endorsed both Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and businessman D.G. "Andy" Anderson for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor.
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HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata said the dual political endorsement is a first for the union.
HGEA endorsed Democrat Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono for governor.
The union also endorsed D.G. "Andy" Anderson.
The two candidates "earned such high marks that the union concluded that Mazie and Andy deserve our support," he said. "The union can work with either as governor."
Okata praised both candidates for their commitment "based on personal enterprise and involvement, not political rhetoric — to bring us as a people and as a community together to make Hawai'i better."
He said the union, which represents state and county white-collar employees, knows both candidates well.
"We have supported them for most of their political careers," Okata said.
The union did not endorse any candidates for the crowded race for lieutenant governor.
Two weeks ago, Anderson was endorsed by the 14,000-member United Public Workers union, which represents state and county blue-collar employees.
The third major Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Ed Case, was considered unlikely to get the endorsement of the public employee unions because of his strong support of civil service reforms opposed by the unions.
In other races, the HGEA endorsed incumbent Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana for re-election and Councilman Randal Valenciano for mayor of Kaua'i.
It made 78 primary election endorsements, including Sen. Lorraine Inouye in her Democratic showdown against Sen. David Matsuura on the Big Island and Councilman Gary Hooser over incumbent Democratic Sen. Jonathan Chun for Kaua'i's seat in the Senate.
The HGEA said its political action committees made up of rank-and-file members on the various islands screened and interviewed candidates and made their recommendations to the HGEA's 19-member board of directors, which approved the final list.
