One of Hawaii’s largest labor unions representing blue-collar workers endorsed Gov. David Ige on Thursday in this year’s gubernatorial race. The United Public Workers union represents about 14,000 members employed at facilities such as schools, hospitals and correctional facilities throughout the state.
“Governor Ige is the people’s candidate,” said UPW State Director Dayton Nakanelua in a press release that noted the governor’s commitment to government accountability, oversight of government contracts, crackdown on tax fraud and efforts to increase affordable housing as some of the reasons for the endorsement.
The endorsement is one of many being announced this week as this year’s primary season intensifies. Another major endorsement came from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the state’s largest union with approximately 42,000 members, which announced Thursday that it was endorsing state Sen. Jill Tokuda in the competitive lieutenant governor’s race.
Both Ige and Tokuda have trailed in the polls, and this week’s endorsements by some of the state’s more influential labor unions could provide a boost to their campaigns.
Ige, who is in a tough race with Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa to secure a second term, also has secured endorsements from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Ironworkers Local 625 and Plasterers &Cement Masons, Local 630.
But overall, Hanabusa has raked in the most union support. Earlier this week she secured the endorsement of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, which represents university faculty. In praising Hanabusa, UHPA President Lynne Wilkins said in a press release that “we need a governor who is predictable, driven by consistent values, decisive, collaborative, and has the integrity to keep promises.”
Hanabusa has been endorsed by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, which represents about 3,000 city and county police officers statewide. She’s also won endorsements from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 1186, 1260 and 1357; the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council; the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; and ILWU Local 142.
HGEA has yet to endorse a candidate in the governor’s race, but its endorsement of Tokuda in the lieutenant governor’s race is a significant win for Tokuda. A Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll taken in March had Tokuda in third place with 12 percent of the vote. State Sen. Josh Green led by
19 percent. However, 41 percent of voters said they were undecided.
“HGEA’s leadership recognized Jill’s commitment to working families and her support of HGEA values and priorities throughout her elected career,” HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said in a news release. “She’s always stood on the side of workers and we are confident that Jill will continue to fight for all who are finding it hard to maintain a quality standard of living.”
Tokuda called the endorsement “deeply personal,” noting that her mother was an HGEA member when she died.
In addition to Green, Tokuda’s challengers include Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, former Board of Education member Kim Coco Iwamoto and Will Espero, who recently resigned his state Senate seat.
Green has been endorsed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters.
