Fasi to run as Republican in Jan. 4 special election
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi filed to run for Congress yesterday, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink earlier this year.
Advertiser library photo
Fasi joins a crowded field of candidates including former state Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat who lost his bid for governor in September; former state Rep. Jim Rath, a Republican who was voted out of office last week; and former state Rep. Bob McDermott.
"I support the policies of the president of the United States," Frank Fasi said.
Fasi, who served as Honolulu mayor for 22 years, said he is running because it is important that the state elect a Republican to its congressional delegation.
"I support the policies of the president of the United States," Fasi said, "and one more vote in the House to support those policies, I think, would be appreciated."
U.S. Sens. Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka and U.S. Rep Neil Abercrombie are all Democrats, and all of them voted against a war powers resolution last month to give President Bush the option of using military force if necessary against Iraq.
Fasi, 82, said his age should not be an issue. He said he's "in better shape than many people holding top office today."
"Matter of fact, I'm ready to carry a rifle if the president asked me to," he said. "Being a former Marine, they might call me yet."
As a longtime mayor, Fasi may have an advantage of name recognition in what is expected to be a large field of Democratic candidates who will divide up the vote among themselves.
"If you get 20 percent of the vote, you get elected," Fasi said. "The more people that run, the better for me."
Two elections will be held to replace Mink. The voting on Nov. 30 will decide who will finish out the last weeks of her unfinished term; the other election, Jan. 4, will decide who will fill her seat over the next two years.
Thirty-eight people filed to run Nov. 30 to finish out the final weeks of Mink's term this year.
The filing deadline for the Jan. 4 election is Nov. 20.
In that race, so far Democrats Case, Kekoa Kaapu, Art Reyes and Steve Tataii have filed, along with Republicans Doug Fairhurst, Fasi, Rich Payne, McDermott, Rath and John Sabey.
Nonpartisan candidates Kabba Anand, Alan Gano, Moana Keaulana-Dyball and Bartle Lee Rowland also filed, along with Green Party candidate G. Goodwin and Libertarian Jeff Mallan.
