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| Posted on: Monday, September 16, 2002
Three-way Democratic race highlight primary
By Kevin Dayton The primary election action in the governor's race this year has focused mostly on the Democrats, who milled in confusion until May before settling into a relatively low-key three-way campaign. A Honolulu Advertiser Hawai'i Poll done in late August and early September indicates Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono is leading the field of Democrats, while former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle leads in the Republican primary. That makes it increasingly likely Hawai'i will elect its first woman governor this year. In the jockeying for position leading up to the election, Hirono actually quit the governor's race last November, saying she planned to run for Honolulu mayor. Then Democratic front-runner Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris also quit the governor's race shortly before the state Democratic convention in May, saying he didn't believe he could win. Harris has two more years to go as mayor, and his decision to finish out his term meant there will be no mayoral race this year. That prompted Hirono to re-enter the race for governor, where she immediately became the Democratic frontrunner. Her chief primary election opponents are businessman and former state lawmaker D.G. "Andy" Anderson and state Rep. Ed Case. Anderson, a longtime businessman and former chairman of the Hawai'i Republican Party, joined the Democrats late last year before announcing he would run for governor. Anderson has offered a series of specific proposals to improve education, including his proposed state run "Pineapple Lottery" to raise money for public schools. Hirono contends she is the candidate who can bring together labor, business and other interests to move the state forward, citing her record as a lawmaker who authored and helped to pass 120 bills in 14 years. Case presents himself as the candidate who will change the system, stressing his plans to reduce the cost of government and make it more efficient, which he said is essential to revitalizing the state economy. The three Democratic candidates have had relatively little money for advertising, making their campaign a more grassroots affair that may have failed to reach many voters. That has worked to the particular disadvantage of Case and Anderson, since Hirono was better known as a sitting statewide office holder. On the Republican side, former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle appeared to be easily besting former commercial airline pilot John Carroll. A Hawai'i Poll by The Honolulu Advertiser earlier this month showed Lingle was leading by nearly 80 percentage points among voters who said they plan to vote in the Republican primary. Lingle has presented herself as the candidate who can "restore trust" in state government, revitalize the economy and improve the state's public schools. Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
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© COPYRIGHT 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. |