Experience counts in Senate contests

Hawaii’s Legislature became the nation’s most lopsided in 2010, and no other state comes close to its single-Republican Senate. The onus is on the GOP to come up with candidates who can overcome the clout of incumbent Democrats and provide influence.

Of the 11 Senate seats up for grabs in the general election, voters will need to gauge the views of incumbents against potential effectiveness of challengers in bringing home the bacon. Here are our picks for five Senate seats; the remaining six will be discussed tomorrow:

» District 9 (Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala):

Incumbent Sam Slom, the Senate’s sole Republican, has been a voice of fiscal and social conservatism since his election in 1996. He has been president and executive director of Small Business Hawaii since 1983.

"Conservatives — and conservative Republicans in particular — have always placed a great deal of emphasis on the individual and what an individual can do," he said after the 2010 election. "So whether it’s five of us or two of or one of us, it’s not irrelevant to the fact that more than 45 percent of the people (in Hawaii) chose Republican candidates and they need a voice."

Slom is opposed by Democrat Kurt Lajalas, a lifelong Niu Valley resident and medaled Air Force pilot from 1983 to 1992 who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Lajalas is a first-time candidate for public office who should be considered for future representation, but Slom is a necessary conservative advocate and should retain his seat.

» District 10 (Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Maunalani Heights, Kaimuki):

Democrat Sen. Les Ihara has been in the Legislature since 1986 and and been a leading figure in the Senate since 1994; the former majority leader is now the Democrats’ policy leader. Ihara, 59, is a leading advocate on ethics, open government and campaign finance legislation, and supports legalization of same-sex marriage. His abilities were recognized last year when he was named co-chairman of the National Conference of State Legislature’s Legislative Effectiveness Committee. Ihara is challenged by federal credit union employee Republican Eric Marshall, 37, a conservative who opposes same-sex marriage, supports lowering taxes and proposes term limits for public office. Ihara’s experience and voice in the Legislature is valuable; he deserves to continue.

» District 11 (Makiki, Tantalus, Manoa):

Democrat Brian Taniguchi is a lawyer who was elected to the House in 1980 and has been in the Senate since 1994. Taniguchi, 60, a former Ways and Means chairman, has been considered for the Senate presidency. He supports same-sex marriage and an increase in the general excise tax along with establishing an earned income tax credit to make taxes less regressive. The Republican contender is Chaminade University student Larry Fenton, who once ran for Congress in California on the Reform Party ticket; he moved to Maui in 2007 and Oahu a few months later. Taniguchi, with deep community roots and delivery for constituents, deserves reelection.

» District 12 (Kakaako, McCully, Waikiki):

Democratic Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria was a radio broadcaster before becoming Democratic Party chairman in 2004 and being elected to the Senate in 2008. He favors legalization of same-sex marriage and considers homelessness, crime and noise as priority issues in his district.

He is challenged by Republican Liz Larson, who co-owns a small travel and hospitality services company in Waikiki. She has a master’s degree in business administration, arrived from Utah five years ago and is running for the first time. Galuteria’s experience and clout serve his district well; he should be reelected.

» District 16 (Pearl City, Aiea):

Democratic Sen. David Ige was elected to the House in 1986 and to the Senate in 1994, where he chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Ige has focused on education, technology, economic development, public access and legislative reform. An engineer, he has served as the Democratic technology leader. Republican candidate Mike Grego, a Navy veteran, heads a small construction consulting firm and is on the Aiea Neighborhood Board. Ige’s breadth of knowledge and esteem among colleagues should earn him reelection.