Candidates reflect range of ideologies
Hyperbole has it that Hawaii is a one-party state dominated by Democrats, but that’s not entirely true. Many races this election year feature candidates from more than one party, including Republicans, Libertarians and Greens — even if many of them are people who have passion but scant knowledge or experience in the legislative process.
Today, the Star-Advertiser offers the second of three days of state House endorsements, for contested Oahu seats from Districts 29-37:
>> District 29 (Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi-Palama): This race seems to be Democrat Daniel Holt’s for the taking, after Karl Rhoads vacated the seat to run for the Senate office vacated by Suzanne Chun Oakland. Holt prevailed over four other Democrats in the primary, and he should easily prevail against Republican rival Kaiwiola Coakley, a missionary and public service worker. Born and raised in Kalihi, Holt is a former Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board chairman. He also is politically well-connected: he is the Senate’s assistant sergeant-at-arms, was legislative director for then-Senate President Donna Mercado Kim in 2012-14, and his father is former Sen. Milton Holt.
>> District 31 (Fort-Shafter-Moanalua Gardens-Aliamanu): Incumbent Aaron Ling Johanson used to be a Republican — serving as House minority whip from 2011-13 and minority leader from 2013-14 — but switched to the Democratic Party two months after being re-elected in 2014; generally, though, his views align as a moderate Republican. The official Republican on the ballot is neighborhood board member and landscaping contractor Eric H.L. Ching, whose stated positions also are generally moderate, but comes without experience in the legislative realm.
>> District 34 (Pearl City-Waimalu-Pacific Palisades): Incumbent Democrat Gregg Takayama has served his constituents reasonably well since taking office in 2013, most recently as House Public Safety chairman and on advocacy for senior-interest issues such as Kupuna Care and the CARE Act. Still, he is facing one of the strongest Republican challengers to come along in awhile, Jaci Agustin, a former Mrs. Hawaii and YMCA of Honolulu program manager, who earned 40 percent of the vote against Takayama in 2014. Her focuses on aging issues and civic engagement resonate — but her views on police oversight and disclosure, compared with Takayama’s, are too hands-off.
>> District 35 (Pearl City-Waipio-Pearl Harbor): Incumbent Democrat Roy Takumi has our support, though it might be coming with a big price tag: The House Education chairman wants to establish an after-school program for middle-schoolers similar to the A+ program for elementary students — a fine idea but one that clearly would cost. Republican Roger Clemente, who works for the Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division, seems truly public spirited, but is vague on taxes and unspecific on how he would achieve his laudable goals of “better education, health, safety, economy, sustainability” and improved senior services and benefits. He could end up being expensive, too.
>> District 36 (Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): The time might be right for the former incumbent, Democrat Marilyn B. Lee, to be returned to office. The current incumbent, Republican Beth Fukumoto Chang, first won the seat in 2012, and though she is House minority leader, has otherwise been unable to make much headway in the Democrat-heavy House; there is talk of her bolting to the Democrats if she is re-elected. Lee, meanwhile, has remained very active in the community since leaving the Legislature, so we believe she still could be very effective were she to return to the body she once served for 16 years.
>> District 37 (Mililani-Waipio-Waikele): Democratic incumbent Ryan Yamane has been a reliable legislator since taking office in 2005 — a former social worker who also has a master’s degree in business administration so is sensitive to the effect of taxes and fees on those struggling to get by. His interests range from the environment to commerce and consumer protection, and his name is attached to many measures that have made their way through the Legislature. Republican Katherine Kupukaa, an adult supervisor seeking office for the first time, has testified at public hearings and been active in the Stop Rail effort.
6 responses to “Candidates reflect range of ideologies”
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It is ALL Dems so WHY vote ??? In the mayor’s race we need to get KIRK the heck out of here FAST or I would have zero reason to vote. Same Dems in DC, same Dems in local politics. Hawaii is a one party Welfare state that will NEVEr change. sad
Dead in the water. No hope.
The logic of your endorsement of Marilyn Lee escapes me. While it is true that despite her intelligence and hard work, Beth Fukumoto Chang has faced the challenges common to any Republican in the Democrat-dominated House, she has come across as a professional and responsible representative for her politically-diverse district. Marilyn Lee does have a record as a committed legislator, but is really just another Democratic vote. Although one-party rule may feel comfortable to many of us, our state benefits from calm, effective, and reasonable voices of dissent. On balance, I think Beth Chang deserves your support.
I support Marilyn though I believe that Beth has the qualities you describe. This is a strange race in that both of the candidates are really good people and work hard for the community.
My problem though is that all of the current representatives in Mililani seem to be in the pocket of New Hope Church and vote against values that I know they hold personally when the church dictates otherwise. Personally, I don’t want representatives in the legislature who are bought and paid for by the church-for-profit.
Where is the ideology? The editorial focus on party ID and connections suggests tribalism, nor systematic thought. Bureaucracy expands. Public sector retirement plans have made more promises than they can keep. Increased tax rates will generate less revenue as producers go underground or leave the State. Does any politician have a plan other than to pump his/her high three and get the hell out?
“Hyperbole has it that Hawaii is a one-party state dominated by Democrats, but that’s not entirely true.” There are some Republican legislators so you are technically correct but the reality is Hawaii has been and will continue to be run by the Democratic Party.