Star-Bulletin endorses Lingle in governor's race

Associated Press

The state's second-largest newspaper today announced its support for Republican Linda Lingle in the race for Hawai'i governor.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin said it supports Lingle because of her agenda for change in state government.

"Despite progressive moves aimed at attracting businesses to Hawaii, the state's entrenched, single-party power structure continues to discourage free enterprise," the paper states in an editorial. "Linda Lingle as governor would stand the best chance to produce the change needed — in both substance and image — to bring economic prosperity to the state. ...

"She proposes nurturing competition in the marketplace and reducing taxes to create economic growth and diversity, decentralizing the Department of Education to bring about more local control of schools, making changes aimed at reducing the cost of medical care and committing the state to alternative energy sources."

Earlier this week, Lingle picked up the endorsement of the state's largest newspaper, The Honolulu Advertiser. Both Honolulu dailies also supported Lingle in her failed bid for governor in 1998.

Recent polls, including one released today, show Lingle in a statistical tie with Democrat Mazie Hirono, the incumbent lieutenant governor. The general election is Tuesday.

The Star-Bulletin, owned by the Canadian-based Black Press Ltd. newspaper chain, reports a circulation of about 70,000 daily.