Posted on: Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Kaneshiro enters prosecutor's race
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Former Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro announced yesterday that he will seek a return to office this year by challenging incumbent prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who had been unopposed.
Kaneshiro had been a candidate for mayor in 2002, but the race was canceled after Mayor Jeremy Harris announced that he would remain as mayor until the end of his term, instead of stepping down early to run for governor as he had planned.
Kaneshiro, 55, said he decided to run for prosecutor rather than mayor this year because he believes issues of crime and public safety are major concerns for residents.
"I will have a deeper understanding and a more comprehensive approach" than Carlisle, he said.
Carlisle, 51, said he was proud of his office's record, and that good cooperation between law enforcement agencies has resulted in falling crime rates for most types of offenses.
He said he looked forward to debating Kaneshiro in person.
Carlisle, who was first elected in 1996, is seeking a third term as prosecutor. He and Kaneshiro are both known as strict law-and-order candidates. Carlisle ran for re-election unopposed in 2000.
Kaneshiro said he had approximately $20,000 in his campaign account. Carlisle said he had about $36,000 available.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
Kaneshiro served two terms as prosecutor, from 1988 to 1996, and later worked for nearly two years as head of the state Department of Public Safety. He has since run his own security and private investigation firm and remained an attorney in private practice.
Keith Kaneshiro
Peter Carlisle
