Posted on: Sunday, October 24, 2004

GOP striving for magic number: 18

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

When Linda Lingle in 2002 became the first Republican in four decades to capture the Hawai'i governor's office, the state GOP actually lost four seats in the state House of Representatives.

Dropping to below 18 seats in that election, to 15 seats, cost the Republicans dearly. In the ensuing two years, Lingle did not have in her pocket the one-third of the 51 House votes needed to block any attempts by the Democratic majority to override her vetoes.

Another key threshold for the Republicans is 17 House members, which is how many are needed to pull or "recall" a bill from a committee without the consent of the committee chairperson.

With all that in mind, Lingle and GOP chairman Brennon Morioka have made it their goal to at least get back to 18 seats.

Republicans are making the argument that the Democrats stifled Lingle's initiatives. Democrats are warning voters that Lingle needs to be stopped from dismantling the good they've been able to accomplish.

Among the seats Republicans hope to snatch from the Democrats are several now held by first-term incumbents. Tommy Waters is facing a tough challenge from Wilson "Kekoa" Ho in the 51st District (Waimanalo, Lanikai) seat. So, too, will Romy Mindo in the 43rd House District ('Ewa Beach, West Loch), who is coming off a come-from-behind primary win to face Kymberly Pine. A third first-term Democratic incumbent facing a stiff challenge is Jon Karamatsu, who goes up against Rito Saniatan in the 41st District (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele).

In the Senate, Democrats hold a 20-5 advantage over the GOP.