Posted on: Thursday, October 10, 2002

HMA for Lingle; women's caucus backs Hirono

Advertiser staff

Endorsements continue to go to both major political parties' gubernatorial candidates, with Republican Linda Lingle picking up support from the Hawai'i Medical Association's political action committee and Democrat Mazie Hirono winning the support of the Hawai'i Women's Political Caucus yesterday.

Paula Arcena, director of the political action committee representing several hundred members of the HMA, said Lingle has "a concrete plan" to improve healthcare in Hawai'i. The HMA is a nonprofit organization of physicians and spouses founded in 1963.

The Hirono endorsement was made based on candidate questionnaires regarding reproductive freedom, domestic violence, affirmative action and homelessness.

"We judge people on the responses, and Mazie's responses met the criteria," said Kaye Kennedy, director of the 400-member caucus. "Linda Lingle did respond, but she didn't meet the criteria."