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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM Gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann shook hands with Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa at a news conference held Friday morning at the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers headquarters in Kalihi.
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Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa on Friday endorsed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s independent campaign for governor, saying Hannemann has the qualities and foresight to effectively lead the state.
Arakawa, who said he has known Hannemann for three decades, cited the former mayor’s private-sector experience, including his work in the travel industry, as well as his administrative skills in leading the state’s largest city.
Arakawa said many state departments are struggling with a lack of staff, equipment and money to function properly. "I’m looking at Mayor Hannemann as someone who can lead the state and will address a lot of these issues that, up to now, people have tried to ignore and pretend it’s going to go away," he said.
Hannemann, who lost Democratic primary campaigns for Congress in 2012 and governor in 2010, has to demonstrate that the Hawaii Independent Party can gain some traction and attract moderates from the two major political parties. Many political analysts have doubts about whether Hannemann can serve as more than a spoiler.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige are competing in the Democratic primary. Former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is the leading Republican.
Arakawa, a former Republican, believes Hannemann can compete as an independent. "I think you’ll see the results of this after the primaries are done and it starts getting to be a discussion and debate on qualifications and programs," he said.
Hannemann, meanwhile, said if elected governor he would create a new Hawaii Council of Leaders that would be made up of the governor and the state’s four mayors. He said the new partnership would grow out the Hawaii Council of Mayors, the coalition he was part of when he led the city.
"The Hawaii Council of Mayors is proof positive that when all four county chiefs are working together, four heads are better than one," Hannemann said in a statement. "With the proposed HCL, the mantra will be five heads — with the governor included — will also be better than one."
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM