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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Teachers union endorses Hanabusa for U.S. House

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Honolulu Councilman Charles Djou filed yesterday as a GOP candidate for the U.S. House seat of Neil Abercrombie, who resigned to run for governor. At left is Djou’s wife, Stacey, with daughter, Alli, 3. Clerk Caryn Moran administered the oath.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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The Hawaii State Teachers Association yesterday endorsed state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa in the May special election for the U.S. House.

"We believe Colleen Hanabusa has been very collaborative working with the HSTA," union president Wil Okabe said. "The community will see that her leadership style will be very beneficial to the state of Hawai'i."

The union's political action committee requested interviews from the three top candidates: Hanabusa, former U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Honolulu Councilman Charles Djou. Hanabusa and Case accepted the offer, Okabe said.

Okabe said the union believes Hanabusa will be beneficial in Congress when it comes to the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. He said Hanabusa supports "fully funding" the mandate "to ensure students of a solid education and the tools necessary to lead full and productive lives."

Okabe also recognized Hanabusa in her role as senate president and her support for appropriating money to reduce or eliminate furloughs of public school teachers.