Hirono says she'll run for office again
By Frank Oliveri
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said yesterday that she intends to run for political office in the future, but has not decided which one.
Gannett News Service
Hirono spoke at a meeting of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, where she encouraged women to "vote, run and lead."
Former Hawai'i Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono spoke yesterday at a forum of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies in Washington, D.C.
Before her speech, Hirono said she had been on an extended hiatus from politics since losing her gubernatorial bid to Republican Linda Lingle in 2002.
Asked what the future holds for her, Hirono said, "I'm not done with politics."
Political observers note that the state's U.S. senators are advancing in age. Sen. Daniel Akaka, re-elected in 2000, will be 82 at the end of his term. Sen. Daniel Inouye is running for re-election this year. If he wins, his eighth term would end when he is 86 years old.
Hirono declined to say if she had her eye on the Senate. "It remains to be seen. I don't know what I will do," she said.
Alternatively, she could run for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Rep. Ed Case. The filing deadline is in July. Hirono defeated Case in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2002, but gave no indication of interest in the seat.
For now, she plans to assist Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, in his bid against President Bush. She spoke with Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe recently about what she could do.
Hirono said she had been traveling and lecturing in Japan, and spending time with her family.
"It was a much-needed break," she said.
