Posted on: Thursday, July 15, 2004
Party leaders on hunt for candidates
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
With the deadline for filing nomination papers fast approaching, leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties say they are pounding the pavement to ensure they field candidates for each of the state Legislature's 51 House and 25 Senate seats.
The deadline for political hopefuls to file with the Office of Elections is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Legislative races are being closely watched. Gov. Linda Lingle and Hawai'i Republican Party chairman Brennon Morioka say they want to grab a majority of one of the two houses. The Democrats hold a 36-15 advantage in the House and a 20-5 majority in the Senate. Most observers think the best chance for Republicans to gain a majority is in the House.
Short of winning a plurality, the Republicans want to own 18 seats of the House, just more than one-third, to block Democrats' attempts to override Lingle vetoes.
"We're getting close to having almost every single race covered with a pretty viable candidate," Morioka said yesterday. "We're very optimistic about this coming season."
He declined to say exactly how many more candidates he was seeking, but he said "a handful" of races remain without Republican challengers. "We're still trying to fill every one."
Morioka said he believes that the Republicans have a legitimate shot at winning seats in areas that have long been Democratic strongholds such as East Hawai'i, Kaua'i and O'ahu's leeward coast.
Far from losing seats, the Democrats could gain seats in the Legislature this election, said Brickwood Galuteria, chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai'i.
"Obviously our goal is to maintain our present position and, if we can, increase our seats," Galuteria said.
Like Morioka, Galuteria said he expects to have a candidate in nearly every race, but he declined to say how many more need to commit on his slate to fill the roster.
"I think we'll be able to fill most of the pukas," he said.
A number of Hawai'i candidates traditionally wait until the last minute to file nomination papers, and this year is proving no exception. Of 35 House Democrats believed to be running for re-election, 29 had filed yesterday. Republicans had filed to challenge them in 19 races. Ten of the 15 Republican House members seeking re-election had filed. Democrats had filed to run in six of those districts.
A Libertarian and nonpartisan had also filed for House races.
While all 51 House seats are up for grabs, only 12 Senate seats will appear on the ballot. Eight of 10 Democratic incumbents had filed as of yesterday. Republicans had filed to take them on in three of those districts. One of two Senate Republicans up for re-election had filed as of yesterday, and no Democrats had signed up for either of them.
The state Office of Elections updates candidate filings online daily. For the latest, complete list, go to www.hawaii.gov/elections. Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
