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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 20, 2002

Unions slow to endorse

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

A number of major Hawai'i unions may delay their endorsements for governor until after the primary election, a development that could dilute the unions' influence over the three-way Democratic primary.

If the unions do not pick their favorites in the gubernatorial primary, that could work in favor of candidate Ed Case, the Manoa lawmaker who has had particularly strained relations with the leadership of some of the state's largest public worker unions.

It also may make the primary contest more difficult for D.G. "Andy" Anderson and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, both of whom have long-standing, friendly relationships with major labor groups.

The scrambling for position by the candidates earlier this year has complicated the endorsement process. But other factors are at work as well, said Bill Puette, director of the Center for Labor Education and Research at the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu.

In some cases the unions are hesitating "because they see two candidates that they feel I think very comfortable with, and then they also have deep divisions within the unions," Puette said.

Hawai'i unions traditionally have been a formidable force in Democratic primaries, providing sign-wavers, phone banks and other help for campaigns, and strongly encouraging their members to register and vote.

Ordinarily the unions make endorsements before the primary, especially in races for such critical positions as governor.

Russell Okata, executive director of the 25,000-member Hawai'i Government Employees Association, said the HGEA has not yet decided if it will endorse anyone in the gubernatorial primary.

"I would not be surprised if the union stayed open" during the primary, Okata said.

A recent HGEA newsletter rated the candidates for governor, giving high marks to Hirono and Anderson, and the lowest possible rating for Case. The newsletter called Case "a serious threat to public employees" for votes he cast opposing a pay raise for HGEA members in 2001, and for supporting privatization.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, which represents about 13,000 teachers, already has announced it will not make a political endorsement until after the primary.

With school out for the summer, it is too late for the union to launch its formal process of polling teachers at the school level to get their approval for a union primary endorsement, said Danielle Lum, communications specialist for HSTA.

A number of the construction trade unions also are weighing endorsements, including the Hawai'i Carpenters Union. Ron Taketa, financial secretary and business representative, said the union political action committee will meet in the next few weeks to discuss the issue.

The 5,500-member union initially endorsed Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris in the governor's race and Hirono in the mayor's race, "and they both evaporated," Taketa said. "I think at this point in time we are trying to assess whether our members would be better off if we waited until after the primary and just went in one direction as opposed to continuing to endorse candidates who seem to change on us.

"At some point, if you keep changing horses, I think you begin diluting the effectiveness of the endorsement."

Anderson, who has received the endorsement of the United Public Workers union, said he expects that most of the unions will eventually pick a primary election favorite because "every day that goes by, every week that goes by, they weaken themselves.

"My thinking is if labor holds out and labor doesn't get in until after the primary, they've lost their clout, they've lost their influence, because I don't think you can mobilize that many thousands of people in six weeks (between the primary and general elections)," Anderson said.

Part of the problem, says Puette, is a number of union members began working for Anderson early in the campaign when Hirono was running for mayor.

When Harris announced he would not run for governor, the race for mayor this year was off, and Hirono announced she would run for governor.

That put some union activists in an awkward position, because Hirono is also highly regarded by many in the union movement. Puette, who said he is a longtime Hirono supporter, said many unions activists felt conflicted.

"Once you sort of get into something, then you develop loyalties, and it's hard to change your support," Puette said. "It's almost like an act of betrayal."

In other cases the union activists disagree on who to support, and that split may also cause a union to pull back from a public endorsement, he said.

Case said there is a "growing disconnect" between union leadership and the rank-and-file, and he expects union members will make up their own minds about what to do. Case said many have told him they support his efforts to change how state government operates.

Hirono said she expects union members who know her pro-worker positions and who support her will help her regardless of the endorsements.

"I don't expect that it's going to affect my campaign that negatively one way or the other," Hirono said. "I'm just going to keep on working hard."

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.