Posted on: Friday, September 10, 2004

Thoroughness, sincerity sway undecided

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Mayoral candidates Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann picked up support from at least some who attended last night's KHON-TV debate at the Hawaii Theatre, while former mayor Frank Fasi was acknowledged for injecting some humor in the event.

While the majority of those in the theater were involved in Bainum's or Hannemann's campaigns, some were simply voters seeking more information.

One of them was 45-year-old substitute teacher Peggy Jo Muratsuchi.

"Mufi Hannemann has a silver tongue," said Muratsuchi, a Kane'ohe resident. "To me it means he's very quick with an answer, but I think actions speak louder than words. So I'm not sure yet. I have to do more research on that.

"I think because he has a silver tongue, he can make anyone on stage look bad, which may or may not be the reality."

While she said she also "enjoyed" Fasi's answers, Muratsuchi said she was disappointed with the "mudslinging" among the candidates.

"I thought this debate was going to be above that," she said.

Last night's debate was the third public mayoral event that Wahiawa resident Greg Reyes has seen. The 30-year-old nuclear engineer was still undecided until last night, after which he decided to support Hannemann.

"I think generally all three of them are very sincere individuals," Reyes said. "I think Mufi tonight and in the past two debates that I've watched has answered questions more thoroughly and has more thought into his answers, which shows me that he's done his homework a little more than others."

"Fasi," he said, chuckling, "I think his career horizon has already set.

" ... I think Duke Bainum, with a little more experience in a leadership position, will be a fine mayor someday, just not this time around."

But not everyone was impressed with Hannemann's performance.

"I felt that Mufi was polished, but to the point where I started to feel it was insincere," said Keith Kraughto, a 39-year-old Chaminade University annual fund director from Honolulu. "And although Duke was not, I thought, at the top of his game tonight, I felt his sincerity and his genuineness, where it really came through.

"So, yes, if I'm leaning anywhere now it's probably toward Duke Bainum," said Kraughto, who noted that he has seen Bainum work in the community when Bainum was on the City Council. "I think he addressed the issues in more of a sincere, down-to-earth way."

Kraughto said he appreciated that the candidates spoke on issues he was interested in, from transit to recycling.

"It was entertaining with Fasi, of course," he said.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.