Tsutsui still working out new alliance with governor

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui came to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration by way of the state Constitution, not a desire to join the team or the wish of the voters.

When Abercrombie picked Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to fill the seat left by the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, the Constitution called for the Senate president to become lieutenant governor. So Tsutsui got the job.

After reporting doubts about leaving the state Senate presidency to become the state’s second in command, Tsutsui has been filling a critical role.

Tsutsui now has one legislative session as lieutenant governor and is expected to be acting governor next week while Abercrombie is on personal business in California.

The politics of the position could be dicey. First, Tsutsui will be married to the Abercrombie administration and the two will run as a team, although legally the lieutenant governor position, incumbent or not, is subject to an independent primary election. But Abercrombie says he supports Tsutsui and Tsutsui says the same about Abercrombie, so political bromance it is.

Next week Tsutsui is expected to launch his campaign to keep the appellation "Lt. Gov." in front of his name. Former U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka is expected to be named honorary chairman. Two fundraisers for his election have already been held, including last week, a $2,000 per ticket affair at the Kahala Resort.

"I still have my training wheels on," Tsutsui confessed during an interview last week.

Running a statewide race with Abercrombie will have him upgraded to a 10-speed in no time.

It is a bit of a curious marriage. Tsutsui was a part of the administration team lobbying the recently ended Legislature and helped work issues with his former Senate colleagues.

In fact, while discussing his efforts, Tsutsui repeatedly referred to the Senate offices and caucus room as "our caucus room," as if he still hasn’t completely made the transfer from the Capitol’s second floor to the fifth floor.

"You could say I’ve been working on back-of-the-house stuff, but talking to legislators when it is helpful," Tsutsui said.

Although he declined to give specifics, Tsutsui said that he didn’t blindly do Abercrombie’s bidding and sometimes would politely decline to lobby some issues.

"I said, ‘You know, governor, that is something I am not comfortable with trouble-shooting,’ and he understands and didn’t press it," Tsutsui explained.

Kauai Democrat and Senate Vice President Ron Kouchi said Tsutsui was able to get the "legislative point across to the governor."

Kouchi said Tsutsui helped with the effort to repeal the Public Land Development Corp. law because "it was difficult to figure out what the governor was going to do."

Abercrombie, for his part, has given Tsutsui enough room to put forward his own ideas, including expanding an after-school program to intermediate schools and stepping up support for high-tech initiatives with added state funding.

"One of the things I appreciate about the governor is how he is working on the transition to a young generation," said 41-year-old Tsutsui, adding that Abercrom- bie has been supportive of both 41-year-old U.S. Sen. Schatz and 32-year-old U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

The big question, then, is what will Tsutsui do with the pending campaign between Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Tsutsui said he will stay neutral because he is friends with both Democrats. Keeping that resolution will be an interesting political dilemma as Tsutsui is pressured to support both Abercrombie and Schatz and former fellow state Sen. Hanabusa.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.