Senate in flux with new districts

The boundaries for some state Senate districts have shifted significantly. For example, Windward Oahu’s 25th District now takes in Kailua, Waimanalo and a slice of Hawaii Kai, too. Further up the coast, the 23rd District is now more rural, including a bit of Heeia and the entire Windward Coast, up to Mokuleia.

This has effects on the kind of representation that will best serve the constituents, who will want to elect an advocate for their local concerns, as well as represent their interests well in more statewide issues. Add the desire to foster a broader marketplace of ideas in the state Senate, and choosing the right candidate becomes more complicated.

The state Senate should have functional minority party representation, but unfortunately, the candidate choices in this general election do not offer the opportunity to make party labels the paramount concern.

Instead, the Star-Advertiser seeks to balance the experience and acumen a candidate brings to the job, with their willingness to give varied opinions a hearing at the state Capitol. Here are our endorsements for open seats in Senate districts 18-25 (districts 9-16 were covered Monday):

» 18th District (Mililani-Waikele-Kunia): State Sen. Michelle Kidani had been a stalwart member of various community organizations, primarily in Waipahu and Mililani, before her election to her first term in 2008, and has maintained those bonds. As a freshman, she secured important funding allotments to meet the needs of her communities and has served as vice chairwoman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, as well as of committees on education and public safety, military and intergovernmental affairs. She deserves to return to that post against challenger Rojo Herrera.

» 20th District (Kapolei-Makakilo): One-time GOP legislator Mike Gabbard became a Democrat in 2007. He remains an outspoken social conservative, leading the charge against gay marriage. He also opposed the law legalizing same-sex civil unions, a measure the Star-Advertiser supported. This stance continues to cause friction within his party, but Gabbard’s diverse district includes many constituents who do agree. On myriad other fronts, he has pushed for needed improvements for his growing district and should get a chance to do more. His Republican rival is Dean Capelouto.

» 21st District (Kalaeloa-Waianae-Makaha): When former state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa left to start her first term in Congress, former Rep. Maile Shimabukuro was tapped to fill this seat. She has performed capably and deserves to be elected in her own right against opponent Dicky Johnson. A Legal Aid attorney, Shimabukuro has pushed for bills aimed at improving conditions for the poor and the environment, both key concerns of her communities.

» 22nd District (Wahiawa-Whitmore-Mililani Mauka): Many of Donovan Dela Cruz‘s former constituents on the North Shore were upset by his sponsorship of the controversial Public Land Development Corp. law, as well as another measure to streamline permitting for projects around transit stops. We believe, as he claims, that it’s possible to amend the PLDC law, enabling the public input that any measure concerned with redevelopment must have. Our tenuous support of Dela Cruz over challenger Charles Aki hinges on his making good on a promise to consider PLDC changes that, in his words, "make sense."

» 23rd District (Heeia-Laie-Waialua): This district is now less urbanized with a more focused concern about preservation of agricultural lands and open space. It’s a goal that state Sen. Clayton Hee is more powerfully positioned to advance for his constituents, over his opponent, former GOP Rep. Colleen Meyer. Meyer is one of the more experienced GOP contenders — but Hee, while at times a polarizing figure, as Judiciary Committee chairman can probably do more for the interests of his district.

» 25th District (Hawaii Kai-Waimanalo-Kailua): Republican Fred Hemmings held this seat before deciding to retire two years ago for family reasons. But the very thing for which he criticizes Democratic opponent Laura Thielen — her support for select GOP candidates and employment as head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources under Republican Gov. Linda Lingle — is evidence of a bipartisan ethic that would be healthy in the Senate. Her experience in the administration, dealing with tight budget conditions, and as a former Board of Education member, should serve her and her constituents well.