Yoshimura shifts to Senate race
Advertiser Staff
City Councilman Jon Yoshimura said yesterday he will not run for lieutenant governor but will run for the state Senate instead.
Advertiser library photo • Feb. 19, 2002
Yoshimura, 43, has served on the Council since 1994, representing Nu'uanu, Downtown, Kaka'ako and Kalihi. He is now seeking the seat in the 12th Senate District, which includes Kaka'ako, Ala Moana and Waikiki. He is a Democrat.
City Councilman Jon Yoshimura quits the race for lieutenant governor.
The 12th Senate District has no incumbent. Others running include state Rep. Lei Ahu Isa, who recently jumped to the Republican Party from the Democratic Party, and Democrat Pat McCain, president of the Hawai'i Restaurant Association.
Yoshimura said he changed his political goal in large part because he doesn't have enough money to run a statewide race. Yoshimura said he has about $60,000 and would need at least $200,000 to continue to run for lieutenant governor.
In April, the Hawai'i Supreme Court ordered Yoshimura suspended from practicing law for six months as a penalty for lying about drinking alcohol before a 1999 auto accident. Yoshimura said that incident played no role in his decision to switch races.
