EDITORIAL
Why The Advertiser recommends Lingle

In Hawai'i's first gubernatorial election of the 21st century, The Honolulu Advertiser endorses Linda Lingle and running mate James "Duke" Aiona.

Linda Lingle would be an articulate spokeswoman for our state. Advertiser library photo • Oct. 3, 2002

The state needs that. We sometimes seem locked into a pattern of the same solutions for the same problems with similar results. A change at the top will — we hope — bring change below.

Lingle's Democratic opponent, Mazie Hirono, has served well as state lawmaker and lieutenant governor. Despite Republican efforts to tar Hirono with the missteps of other Democratic officeholders, it is clear that she has conducted herself with integrity and honor.

Hirono takes an activist, pro-consumer approach to government. Her politics fit well (indeed were sorely needed) during the go-go years of the late 1970s and '80s. What was needed then was a brake on runaway development and legislation that would protect consumers in an economy that was red hot.

Hope for change

Clearly, things have changed. Hawai'i has been suffering economically for the better part of a decade. Rules that once made great sense now merely bind. For many, optimism has been replaced with a sense of resignation that things simply aren't going to change.

Lingle, by virtue of the fact that she comes from a different political tradition and a different governmental track, embodies hope for change. Her election would send a signal, both at home and abroad, that Hawai'i is on the move, flexible and open to new ideas.

It is impossible to underestimate the value of such a signal.

Hawai'i has a long and proud Democratic tradition, and with good reason. Far too many voters still remember when economic, social and educational opportunities for many were — at best — second rate under a Republican-controlled state.

The Democrats opened things up for a generation, promising and representing diversity and opportunity. The voters rewarded that work with election victory after election victory. And Hirono is clearly the logical inheritor of that tradition.

But times have changed. For starters, the Republican Party that Lingle represents (and in large measure has helped build) is far more diverse, tolerant and moderate than it had been in the past.

A social moderate herself, Lingle says she would not turn her back on the progress that has been built over four decades.

On several important issues, The Advertiser disagrees with Lingle and probably will continue to do so in the future. Many of these disagreements center around so-called "home rule" issues to which Lingle brings the perspective of a county mayor.

For instance, she sees no need for a statewide water commission or land-use commission. We do.

She would break up the single state school board into seven smaller boards governing seven smaller school districts. We believe there are ways to bring greater empowerment and educational authority to local communities without creating an entire new governance structure.

But the home-rule debate should not cloud the larger issue of the need to get Hawai'i moving again.

Stop throwing mud

And on the topic of moving and change, we hope this campaign will wind up the way it began: positive and generally free of the mudslinging that has tainted so many past campaigns. In this final week, we plead with both Lingle and Hirono to concentrate on their own positive ideas for the future rather than allowing their handlers to muddy the reputation of the opposition.

Hawai'i is better than that.

Linda Lingle came to Hawai'i fresh out of college and has adopted our state as her own. There can be no doubt about her affection for this state and its people.

She would be an articulate, forceful and positive spokeswoman for our state. She deserves your vote.