Lingle maintains low profile as teacher on public policy

Question: Whatever happened to former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle?

Answer: The two-term Republican governor, who served from 2002 to 2010, is teaching a class on public policy at California State University, Northridge.

Lingle, 60, who has kept a relatively low profile since 2012 when she lost to Democrat Mazie Hirono in the race for U.S. Senate, said this week that she has no plans to run for office.

"I spent 30 years in public life and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I do not intend to run for office again because I am now enjoying new experiences," Lingle said in an interview by email.

Lingle, who graduated from CSU Northridge in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, was invited by the school’s provost to teach Political Science 471A, a proseminar on American government.

"It was a chance to give back to students at my alma mater that had given me so much," she said.

About one year after graduation, Lingle moved to Molokai, where she started a community newspaper called the Molokai Free Press. Lingle was elected to the Maui County Council in 1980. After serving on the Council for a decade, she was elected to succeed Maui Mayor Hannibal Tavares, who was limited to serving two terms.

She won a re-election bid in 1994. Before becoming governor, she also served as chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party.

Lingle said her years in office will help the way she guides the course by focusing her teaching on the practical rather than the theoretical. Among the guest speakers slated to address the class are former members of her Cabinet and Maui County Police Chief Gary Yabuta.

In addition, Lingle said she and former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis will host a conference on the CSU Northridge campus next week, during which they’ll talk to students about their time in office, challenges of contemporary governance and the importance of public service.

Lingle said she hopes that her seminar will "give the students the confidence and ability to enter the public policy field and add value to any organization they may join."

After Lingle’s stint as a visiting professor wraps up in May, she plans to return to Hawaii and live in the Hawaii Kai area.

Lingle said she doesn’t know whether she’ll pursue other teaching posts. She said she’s considering "a couple of different opportunities," but would not comment further.

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This update was written by Joie Nishimoto. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To…” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.