Posted on: Friday, September 10, 2004

EDITORIAL
Two legislative races call for extra attention

In the upcoming Sept. 18 primary election, two legislative races call out for more than the usual attention.

In one race, one of the candidates on the ballot would be unable to serve if elected because of conflicting active duty military service.

The other race is the only legislative contest, house or senate, that will be decided outright in the primary. Two Democrats are competing for the seat and no other party is represented on the ballot.

The House race involves the 42nd District (Waipahu, Hono-uliuli, 'Ewa) where four Democrats are competing to face off against Republican Trevor Koch in the general.

One of those Democrats, Tulsi Tamayo, is the incumbent. Although she is on the ballot, she will be unable to perform her elective duties if elected because as a member of the Hawai'i Army National Guard, she has been activated for full-time duty in Iraq.

Under that scenario, The Advertiser urges a primary election vote for Rida Cabanilla, a nurse and active participant in the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.

Interestingly, Cabanilla is a major in the Army Reserve, but she has not been called to active duty.

Cabinilla has a solid grasp of the issues facing her district, including the traffic congestion headache and the perils of the "ice epidemic."

The other primary election race of particular interest is in the 18th Senate District (Waipahu, Crestview, Pearl City).

Here, veteran incumbent Cal Kawamoto faces a challenge from retired public school vice-principal Clarence Nishihara.

The Advertiser endorses Nishihara, who has a strong record of public service in his district through organizations such as the Neighborhood Board and the Waipahu Community Association.

While Nishihara does not have the political experience claimed by Kawamoto, he would bring a fresh, unconflicted and uncompromised voice to the senate and to his district.

In recent years Kawamoto has developed a reputation as an obstructionist to progressive change in the Legislature.

A prodigious fund-raiser, Kawamoto was recently fined $21,000 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for failing to disclose dozens of contributions and for using campaign money for personal expenses.

While Kawamoto has said the lack of disclosure and misuse of campaign money were inadvertent, it does raise questions about his ability to follow the laws that he helps write.

In that context, it was less than reassuring that Kawamoto was among those leading an effort to bring the independent Spending Commission under more direct control by the Legislature.

Nishimoto obviously had this in mind when he said his No. 1 issue would be "honest" campaign reform.

There may be a little political calculation in that statement, but this is a case where it is well worth paying attention to.