Running mates mesh well with gov hopefuls

When Colleen Hanabusa moved from state Senate president to Congress in November 2010, insiders at the state Capitol were predicting that veteran senators from her leadership faction would take control of the chamber. But late one night, an interesting photo started circulating on Facebook and Twitter of a beaming Shan Tsutsui and David Ige.

The young Tsutsui and his allies would take the Senate presidency, while Ige and his faction would control the Senate Ways and Means Committee, an unexpected alliance that snatched power away from seasoned, politically savvy contenders.

Ige and Tsutsui are now campaigning together as the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, referencing their partnership in the Senate as an example of how they can immediately steer the state budget and understand the relationship with the Legislature.

While some tickets in the past have matched candidates who are distant, or even rivals, the lieutenant governor nominees this year complement the aspiring chief executives. Elwin Ahu, the Republican, is, like former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, a former judge, and as a pastor brings both administrative and mobilizing experience. Les Chang, the independent, worked with former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann as city parks director and has management skills as a longtime administrator in the Air Force.

Lieutenant governor candidates rarely alone drive voter behavior, but they can help enhance a ticket. The No. 2 job can also be a pathway to higher office. Since statehood, three former lieutenant governors — George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano — became governors, while two — Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz — became U.S. senators.

"The tendency is to try to come up with a balanced ticket," said Dan Boylan, a political columnist for MidWeek and a former history professor at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

That balance has generally been racial or ethnic, Boylan said, a blend meant to appeal to the state’s diversity. But because lieutenant governor nominees are elected in primaries, not chosen, the candidates for governor — and the political parties — cannot handpick an ideal ticket.

This year, while the tickets may not have the preferred demographic balance, each of the lieutenant governor nominees have working relationships or bonds with the candidates for governor, and one — Ahu — has the potential to influence voter turnout.

In the power-sharing tradition of the Senate, Tsutsui and Ige were chosen by their factions for leadership roles and held the two most influential positions in the chamber as a partnership for two years. Tsutsui, the youngest Senate president and the first from Maui, ascended to lieutenant governor in 2012 after Schatz was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

"I’m confident that we work very well together. I know David believes the same, too," said Tsutsui, 43, who served in the Senate for a decade. "I think we bring a lot in terms of legislative experience. And my years being part of the administration provides some executive management experience as well."

Some Democrats wonder privately whether the soft-spoken Ige and the easygoing Tsutsui, while a departure from the stormy Abercrombie, have the political toughness and communication skills to command the state.

"I think David’s demeanor is probably what the Legislature, and I think really what the state, needs right now," Tsutsui said. "We need someone who is going to really try to bring people together. And David has that ability to do that."

Tsutsui, who as lieutenant governor has promoted after-school programs for middle-schoolers, said he has spoken with Ige about ensuring that the No. 2 position is more than just largely ceremonial. He also said he is not committed to keeping an office on Maui, his home, but would like to continue outreach to the neighbor islands.

Unlike Tsutsui, Ahu and Chang have never run for political office before, a distinction they do not view as a weakness given voter dissatisfaction with government.

"The fact that I have not been involved in the political or legislative process, I think, speaks volumes," said Ahu, 59, an attorney and former judge who is a senior pastor at New Hope Metro. "I’m not at fault for what has happened. But my heart is to really help us move forward."

Ahu said the No. 2 job is not unfamiliar territory, because he worked as executive pastor under Wayne Cordeiro to help build New Hope Christian Fellowship. He said the experience was not only administrative, but also involved mobilizing volunteers.

To move Hawaii forward, he said, "you’re going to need community support. And so it’s not just making money decisions. It’s getting the people behind it. And I think the experience I bring to the table, unlike any other candidate, has been the past experience of mobilizing thousands of volunteers."

As a pastor running for lieutenant governor a year after his public involvement in opposing gay marriage, Ahu has faced questions about how his faith would influence his governing. Politically, some analysts said, Ahu could help Aiona, a Catholic, appeal to religious conservatives who may not otherwise vote.

"The fact that I was a judge in the past, as well as having a faith background, should also put people at ease," Ahu said. "To know that I know how to be impartial. I don’t favor any one side or another. I take delight in sitting in the middle of something and trying to resolve an issue without being influenced by any particular group.

"And I think the last thing that people should understand is that me being in the faith community helps me to understand what’s happening in people’s lives."

Chang, 64, had a 30-year career in the Air Force, retiring as a colonel, before serving for six years as Mayor Hannemann’s parks and recreation director. He says his skill set is in financial, personnel and facilities management, with experience in implementing both military and municipal programs.

He said the lieutenant governor, along with being a heartbeat away from being governor, has to be a contributing member of the administrative team. He said he has talked with Hannemann about having responsibility for outreach to the military, veterans and nonprofits that could partner with the state and improve services.

"The advantage of working for Mufi for six years, he definitely knows my strengths and weaknesses. I know his," Chang said. "We’ve worked together on a day-to-day basis in an executive level."