Posted on: Sunday, June 19, 2005

By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Editor

The last one-term governor Hawai'i had was William Quinn, and even that is an arguable proposition because he served a term as appointed governor and then another as our first elected governor.

But since then, our governors — once elected — tended to serve out their allotted terms, and then some.

In fact, until 1978 when term limits were imposed by that year's Constitutional Convention, the idea of an "allotted term" meant whatever the individual thought he could handle. Two governors, Jack Burns and George Ariyoshi, were elected to three terms.

Since then, two-term limits have applied, and the two governors who followed, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano, each served eight years.

It almost seems as if the voters have come to accept that a governor, once elected, is due the maximum number of years available. And if you think about it, there is some logic to this.

Four years, the amount of time in one term, is barely enough to get things going. The state is like the proverbial battleship: It takes a long time to turn it around. So four years to set things up, another four for completion.

Which brings one to the question of Gov. Linda Lingle, who will be up for a second term next year. It has been more than apparent that this first term for Lingle has been one of setting priorities, putting a like-minded team in place and finding ways of accommodating her administration to an often-contentious Democratic majority in the Legislature.

Once the campaign begins, we will hear plenty of the major and significant accomplishments of the Lingle administration during its first four years. And surely, there will be things to brag about.

But it will be equally obvious that this new Republican administration (the first since Quinn) will need another four years, minimum, to put its stamp firmly on the state and its political history.

Now, it is unlike Hawai'i's Democrats to roll over and play dead. And surely they will not next year.

But there are increasing signs that the campaign against Lingle's re-election will be less about winning the governorship and more about holding her feet to the fire and establishing name recognition for Democrats who have aspirations down the road.

At this point, a serious candidate would be raising money, making public appearances and generally building political momentum.

What we have seen are mostly rumors and speculation about people, ranging from former state Sen. Mike McCartney and current ones such as Colleen Hanabusa and Robert Bunda to long shots such as U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Big Island Mayor Harry Kim (nominally a Republican today).

A campaign that forces Lingle to answer for her first four years and establishes a name (or names) for future battles would be far from useless. But it would also suggest a recognition that in Hawai'i, we tend to elect folks and let them have their full time, for good or for ill.

Jerry Burris is The Advertiser's editorial page editor.