Posted on: Sunday, December 5, 2004

EDITORIAL
Next two years are critical for Gov. Lingle

Halfway through her term as Hawai'i's first Republican governor in some 40 years, Linda Lingle remains an immensely popular political figure whose administrative record remains very much a work in progress.

In an interview with Capitol Bureau reporter Derrick DePledge and in statements issued by her administration, Lingle said she is pleased with her first two years and believes she has made great strides toward meeting campaign promises.

True, she's made some progress toward meeting those promises, but the overall measurement of this administration will hinge on what happens in these final two years.

The "signature" achievement of the Lingle administration has yet to emerge, and her accomplishments thus far, while noteworthy, are more incremental than seminal.

Lingle's promises

Lingle campaigned and was elected on her promise to fundamentally change the way state government operates in Hawai'i. There would be an end to old-boy cronyism; she would develop a business-friendly political and bureaucratic climate; she would restore trust in government.

Let's take a look at those thoughts for a moment.

On cronyism, Lingle has weeded out some of the old-timers who settled into sinecures over decades of Democratic administrations.

But along with some of the fresh faces who have come aboard are more than a fair share of "Friends of Linda," either from her former county administration on Maui or from her campaign.

Granted, as a Republican, Lingle had a fairly short bench to pick from. But a pattern of "who you know" still has some hold in the current state administration.

On creating a business-friendly climate, the Lingle administration cites a number of changes that presumably make it somewhat easier to do business in Hawai'i.

They have cut some fees and assessments and have made more business services available online.

But the task of turning Hawai'i's business climate around is akin to turning an aircraft carrier around. Lingle has much more to do in forging truly effective and change-making alliances with big business and the small-business community.

On trust in government, Lingle's biggest accomplishment has been in selling herself and her administration to the public. Her high approval ratings are a testament to that — and it is an impressive accomplishment.

Lingle is perhaps the most articulate and persuasive public "salesman," if you will, of state government and its intentions that Hawai'i has ever seen.

That's an important part of creating and maintaining trust in government.

But selling your story to the public is not the sole job of any governor.

It's crucial that the governor "sell" her agenda to those within government, the bureaucracy and most particularly the Legislature. This is an area where trust is not just important, it is vital.

During her first two years, we believe, Lingle spent too much political capital battling with the Democratic Legislature.

Perhaps the most telling example was her determined struggle to sell the idea of breaking up the statewide school board. Long after it was clear the idea was dead, she continued to focus on it.

There was another path. The Democrats, more in tune with parents, teachers and students, came up with their own education reform package that incorporated some ideas from Lingle (most notably the idea of weighted student funding), along with ideas of their own.

Bipartisanship

If Lingle had been working with the Democrats all along, we suspect more of her ideas — or at least variations of them — would have found their way into law.

In that regard, we are pleased to hear Lingle say she is dropping the idea of the BOE breakup and instead will focus on issues (such as early childhood education) where she and the Democrats are on the same wavelength.

Indeed, the path to a successful four-year term must run directly through the Legislature. If anything, the Democrats were emboldened by electoral successes last year and will expect more attention, not less, from the administration.

Gov. Lingle and her administration have the skills, dedication and political sense of purpose to achieve great things. The next two years, far more than the first two, will determine whether that actually happens.