Posted on: Friday, June 14, 2002

Island Voices
Hirono opens up race for governor

Dick Ornellas lives in Honolulu.

The sudden emergence of Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono as the Democratic Party's heir apparent to Gov. Ben Cayetano's chair poses a serious challenge to Republican Linda Lingle's gubernatorial aspirations.

Unlike Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, Hirono has the courage and inner strength to stand up for what she believes in.

Probably most important of all, Hirono is non-threatening to one of Hawai'i's largest, most active voting blocs: organized labor.

Unfortunately for Lingle, she has yet to overcome her party's anti-union image and probably never will — now that Hirono is in the race. For Hirono will remind unionists repeatedly that she represents labor's only real option. Unless Lingle can figure out a way to stop her, Hirono might just succeed in galvanizing labor in time for the Nov. 5 election.

Hirono's candidacy changes the entire chemistry and dynamics of the gubernatorial race. If she survives the Democratic primary fight against Ed Case and Andy Anderson, no longer will it be a case of Democratic Caucasian male vs. Republican Caucasian female but Caucasian woman against Oriental woman.

The previous dynamic served Lingle well with its "Me Tarzan, you Jane" overtures. Given the huge amount of Japanese American voters in Hawai'i, the Caucasian-Oriental twist probably has Lingle feeling nervous.

Another change in dynamics involves the qualifications of the candidates themselves. With Harris vs. Lingle, it was a current mayor battling a former mayor. Now, it would be a contest between the lieutenant governor of the state of Hawai'i and the former mayor of Maui County.

Depending on how she plays her cards, Hirono might achieve more political credibility than Lingle. If Hirono plays smart, then a large segment of voters will see her ascension to the governor's office as a logical next step and reward her at the ballot box. If Hirono plays foolish, those same citizens might view her as part and parcel of the Cayetano/Democratic Party problem and devastate her on Election Day.

Lingle's main task is to paint Hirono the villain without offending and alienating the state's enormous population of Japanese American and union voters — not to mention the droves of seniors who almost automatically vote Democratic.