By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

One of the greatest, if least understood, powers of the governor of Hawai'i is the power of appointment.

Since becoming governor, Linda Lingle has made hundreds of appointments ranging from high-profile slots such as Supreme Court justice to seats on little-known boards and commissions.

The significance of this is that each one of these appointees contributes to ongoing state policy and practice. And their influence will extend beyond the life of the current administration.

Obviously, Lingle cannot apply a one-size-fits-all litmus test to appointments. In fact, there are times when the task is simply getting any qualified person to take on a job, let alone someone who is in step with the governor politically and philosophically.

But there is a vetting process. The overall goal is to put the stamp of the administration on government.

Slowly but surely, the governor builds a political and bureaucratic infrastructure in his or her own image. These appointees gain experience and connections that serve them well as they rise through the ranks.

Long after the current governor is gone, the "flavor," if you will, of her administration will remain. And there is nothing new about this.

Consider one example. Years ago, when John A. Burns was governor, he tapped an unknown young lawyer to sit on a state transportation committee.

That young man found he liked government service, stuck with it and eventually became Gov. Ben Cayetano.

Who knows? One of the Lingle appointees of today may show up a decade later as a governor, U.S. representative or U.S. senator.

And speaking of U.S. senators, there is some confusion about the governor's awesome appointing powers and how it applies to the case of a vacant Senate seat.

The issue has been raised this election year because Hawai'i's two incumbent senators, both Democrats, are both turning 80 next month and could decide to retire in the middle of a term. (Dan Inouye, in good health, is up for re-election this year; Sen. Dan Akaka is to face re-election in 2006.)

The respected Capitol Hill newsletter Roll Call recently speculated that should either Akaka or Inouye step down, it would create an opportunity for Lingle to name a strong Republican and help keep the balance of power for the GOP in the Senate.

A good theory. But wrong.

If there is a vacancy, Lingle will name a replacement, but by law it must be a registered Democrat.

If a Democrat were governor, the logical choice would be to appoint one of the two sitting Democratic U.S. representatives. That's how Akaka first got to the Senate.

That's obviously not a sound option for Lingle. Presumably, the best choice would be a person who is nominally a Democrat, senior in experience and without political ambitions.

Jerry Burris is editor of The Advertiser's editorial pages. Reach him through letters@honoluluadvertiser.com.