Posted on: Thursday, June 10, 2004

EDITORIAL
Mayoral race should focus on the basics

The campaign for mayor of Honolulu has been unofficially under way for some two years now, but it moved into a new level this week with a well-publicized joint appearance in Waikiki by the two leading candidates, Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann.

The appearance, before the Waikiki Community Center, was the first major set-piece appearance by the two on the same stage.

Former Mayor Frank Fasi, who says he will also be in the race, did not appear.

Hannemann and Bainum are already taking jabs at each other over endorsements, campaign contributions, agricultural land tax policy and other issues.

But in many ways it was where they struck the same themes that was most interesting.

Each candidate has stressed that as mayor, he will focus first on basic city services and needs, such as police and fire protection, sewers, road repairs and the like.

This clearly is an attempt to distinguish themselves from the current mayor, Jeremy Harris, who has a reputation for favoring voter-pleasing glamour projects.

But whatever the motivation, the stress on the basics is a welcome theme.

Honolulu has serious infrastructure issues, particularly our aging sewage system and road repair, that will demand focused attention from the next mayor.

So one must hope that this early emphasis on the basics represents true priorities, not just campaign positioning.

Yes, voters expect to get some of the "vision thing" from the candidates, and each offers some ideas about the Honolulu of tomorrow he hopes one day to lead.

But for now, and as the campaign unfolds, we hope to hear more from Hannemann and Bainum on how, specifically, they plan to upgrade our roads, our transit system, our sewers and other basic city services.

This means outlining what needs to be done, what should come first and — most important — how the work will be paid for.

The two candidates have some history between them as former city councilmen, and there will be a temptation to rehash those issues as the campaign heats up.

That's fine as far as it goes. But the public deserves tough, focused and workmanlike discussion of those less glamorous but absolutely important basics.

Both candidates are more than experienced enough to deliver the goods. We look forward to this campaign.