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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, January 3, 2003

Matsunaga goes after Case in last days of campaign

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a last-minute series of television and Neighbor Island newspaper advertisements, congressional candidate Matt Matsunaga is sharply attacking incumbent Ed Case, accusing him of supporting the legalization of marijuana and lower pay for teachers.

Case yesterday said the ads distort his record and amount to negative campaigning. Matsunaga said they simply point out the differences between the two. Both are Democrats.

"During the campaign, so many people have asked 'What is the difference between you and Ed Case?' " Matsunaga said. " 'You are both sharp attorneys, both have experience in the Legislature. What differentiates you two on the issues?' These ads allow voters to make an informed decision on election day."

The ads feature Matsunaga talking about how he differs with Case, and says Case was against better pay for public school teachers and supported same-sex marriage and decriminalizing marijuana for recreational use. Case said the information in the ads is false.

"Evidently, he has nothing he can offer positively about himself and his qualifications to represent the 2nd Congressional District," Case said. "He has to take the big chance that the only way he has to prevail is not to build himself up, but to tear me down. I'm surprised, and I'm saddened."

Case, Matsunaga and 42 others are running in a special election tomorrow to fill the late Patsy Mink's seat representing rural O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands in the 108th Congress. The results will be released Sunday.

Case won a special election Nov. 30 to finish the remainder of Mink's term in the 107th Congress.

In the ads, Matsunaga said he supported raises for teachers based on tenure in the last Legislature and Case opposed those raises. He said Case has also supported legalizing marijuana and same-sex marriage.

Case said the ads misrepresented his record and positions. He said he did not vote against teacher raises, but against taking the issues of raises out of collective bargaining. On marijuana, Case said he has never been for legalizing the drug, but said Hawai'i should take part in the national debate on whether law enforcement should focus on drugs like crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," rather than marijuana.

He also said he did not promote same-sex marriage, but said he was against a constitutional amendment putting the question before voters in 1998 because he believed the issue should have been decided in the courts.