Expect weekly access to governor on radio
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle spoke about everything from the state of the budget to recent movies she has seen during her first appearance on KHVH Radio's Rick Hamada Show yesterday morning.
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Lingle is intending to make guest appearances from about 7 to 8 a.m. each Monday on the show, which airs on 830 AM.
Gov. Linda Lingle plans to make radio appearances every Monday morning on 830 AM.
"It's strictly and solely a public service so folks have access to Q&A with the governor once a week," said Hamada, a vocal critic of past Democratic administrations.
The governor had appeared weekly in her capacity as chairwoman of the Republican Party of Hawai'i, a practice that ended when she stepped down last spring to run for governor. But she had promised to return if elected, Hamada said.
"It's an opportunity for the governor to give 55 minutes of her time to the public each Monday, to take questions from the public," said Lenny Klompus, Lingle's senior adviser for communications. Klompus said he is working with radio stations on the Neighbor Islands to pick up the feed and to give listeners the opportunity to call in via KHVH's toll-free line.
No other station has approached the administration about similar broadcasts, he said, but such requests would be considered like other requests for Lingle's time.
At a meeting of the National Governor's Association in November, several other governors spoke about having regularly scheduled listener call-in radio sessions, Klompus said. Locally, Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris is now appearing from 4 to 5 p.m. every Wednesday on Mike Buck's talk show, also on KHVH, and for a time had his own program paid for by commercial sponsorship.
Tom Brislin, a journalism professor at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said Lingle's willingness to take to the live airwaves should be applauded. "The more information about government, the better," he said. "And a regular public appearance is good."
Brislin noted, however, that Hamada's show is "definitely a program with a conservative political agenda." Lingle should try to balance that by appearing on programs with a more liberal bent, or no political agenda at all, he said.
Even better, he said, Lingle should have regularly scheduled news conferences with journalists.
The new governor has promised to make herself available regularly to field questions from the media.
KHVH is not required to give equal time to politicians with differing views, except during election season and only if Lingle is running. Hamada said the Federal Communications Commission requires equal time among candidates 60 days before a primary election, and 30 days before a general election.
Hamada, however, said he was already intending to invite City Council Chairman Gary Okino for a regular guest spot to discuss issues. He also said it might be a good idea to ask Senate President Robert Bunda and House Speaker Calvin Say, both Democrats, as well.
"I would love to extend the same amount of time to Bobby Bunda and Calvin Say," Hamada said.
During her roughly 40 minutes on the air yesterday, Lingle touched on a wide range of topics, including a call for citizens to volunteer to serve on boards and commissions and the frustration of needing to spend time on such peripheral issues as the Aloha Stadium turf and a pet owner's grievance with animal quarantine rules.
And the governor's latest movie recommendations? "Frida," the story of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo starring Selma Hayek, and "Two Weeks Notice," a romantic comedy featuring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.
