By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

In a town where politics is a varsity sport, it was inevitable.

The dust had hardly begun to settle on the decision of the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents to fire President Evan Dobelle when the speculation began. What will Evan do now?

The first guess, as always in this town, is politics. Dobelle, the speculation runs, will now run for governor.

And why not? He has politics in his blood, both as a functionary at local and national levels with the Democratic Party and as an elected official himself. At a young age, Dobelle was twice elected mayor of Pittsfield, Mass. (as a Republican, mind you) and it never seemed that he was through with elective politics.

In fact, one theory has it that Dobelle's ouster by a board dominated, if not numerically, then at least in a practical sense, by appointees of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, was all about politics.

There were suspicions that the ever-energetic Dobelle was already planning to run for governor against Lingle and the best thing to do would be to cut him off now, destroy his power base and sully his reputation.

That's an engaging scenario. But it fails to take into account Lingle's own confidence and conviction that she can take whatever the Democrats throw at her. It also would have one believe that Lingle and the regents would be willing to throw the university into turmoil simply to take care of what may, or may not, be a future political headache.

But still, if Dobelle is out of a job and retains ambitions in Hawai'i, why not consider politics? It's not as if the starting gate for the Democratic nomination for governor is already full.

There's Mazie Hirono, who lost to Lingle last time around, and U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who lost a primary bid for governor. Hirono has been politically quiet, and Case has given no indication he is interested in anything other that building his career in Congress.

There are a number of Democrats in the Legislature who have shown leadership interest, beginning with House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate President Robert Bunda. But there are no signs that anyone at that level is already actively organizing to begin a campaign for governor.

And, as Lingle amply demonstrated, a gubernatorial campaign is a virtually full- time effort that begins long before the official election season begins.

But at the end of the day, there are no strong, obvious and active candidates flying the Democratic flag for governor two years hence.

Brickwood Galuteria, the newly elected state chairman of the Democratic Party, says he and other party officials are "looking" but are far from identifying the most prominent standard-bearer. But that search could well involve a look at Dobelle.

"There are stars who shoot through the roof," he said. "We always look in that area."

Stay tuned.

Jerry Burris is editor of the editorial page.