Posted on: Friday, January 4, 2002

New court to weigh in on Harris' term dispute

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

Former state District Judge Russell Blair went to state Circuit Court yesterday with his battle to require Mayor Jeremy Harris to resign immediately because he is running for governor.

Blair, represented by attorney William Deeley, filed suit yesterday charging that the 1978 Constitutional Convention was clear in calling for a law that would cause candidates within the state to "resign to run" for another office.

Blair said Harris' decision to announce he would run for governor 14 weeks after his election as mayor was such "an extreme example" of what the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were trying to avoid.

Harris' attorney Robert Klein, a former state Supreme Court justice, said he believes the court will rule that Harris doesn't have to resign until he files papers indicating he is running — by the July 23 filing deadline.

Klein said Blair's interpretation is an unusual one. "It seems fairly political to me."

Both sides agree on one thing: They hope a judge will decide quickly on the matter. Deeley said a judge could schedule a hearing on the matter as early as the end of the month.

Blair had asked the Hawai'i Supreme Court to decide on the issue directly. But last month, the high court said Blair "has alternative means to seek review."

That put the matter back before the lower court, where Blair filed his case.