Posted at 3:50 p.m., Monday, September 25, 2006
Republicans choose Thielen as Coffee's replacement
Advertiser Staff
State Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Mokapu), will challenge U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the November Senate race, the Hawai'i Republican Party announced this afternoon.The Republican Party's executive committee unanimously agreed to ask Thielen to challenge Akaka after retired Navy pilot and Vietnam War POW Jerry Coffee won Saturday's Republican primary, although he had already withdrawn from the race for health reasons.
Thielen is considered a moderate who could appeal to supporters of Akaka's Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who lost Saturday's primary.
