On Politics: After dull 2018 election, get ready for lively 2020 race, mainly for mayor

The good news is that this boring election season is ending. The even better news is that the race for 2020 has already started.

Hawaii’s votes cast in this general election will be counted Tuesday evening, but in almost all cases, the winners were already decided during the summer’s primary election. Certainly the major race for governor was over after Gov. David Ige beat his Democratic rival, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

And with the state Supreme Court rendering a fairly quick rejection of the proposed state constitutional amendment regarding funding public schools, nearly all issues were settled.

In Democratic-leaning Hawaii, Republicans have little reason to cheer; in fact, if anything, they might fear a bit of election embarrassment as the standard-bearers, state Rep. Andria Tupola and lieutenant governor teammate Marissa Kerns have gotten as much publicity because of intermittent spats with each other as they have on the issues.

On the Democratic side, Ige has run the absolute definition of a low-key campaign; still there is little reason to doubt his re-election. The same goes for the other Democrats running for re-election. The closest thing to Democratic uncertainty would be whether former state Rep. Marilyn Lee can retake her old Mililani state House District 36 by beating GOP newcomer Val Okimoto. Lee lost the seat years ago when she was beaten by then-Republican Beth Fukumoto.

That leaves just one ballot question, whether to say “yes” to holding a constitutional convention. The idea, a good one, was clobbered before it could take off this year as special interests flooded the debate with dire predictions and groundless fears. The next chance for citizens to write wholesale government change comes up in 2028.

First, on to 2020. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is term-limited so can’t run for re-election. Also termed out of their City Council jobs in two years are Kymberly Pine and Ikaika Anderson. They both see themselves running the city and have devoted much of the last year to raising money to make the wish come true. Both have held five fundraisers apiece with “mayor” filled in for “The office sought.” Anderson has raised $520,216 and Pine picked up $344,725.

There could be a lot more names popping up.

Former Mayor Mufi Hannemann, however, appears to not be among them.

“A lot of people have been encouraging me to return to public service but I really enjoy what I’m doing now and have priority matters that I still need to focus on,” said Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, when asked if he would run.

There also are political rumors about state Sen. Jill Tokuda, who lost a race for lieutenant governor, and Council Chairman Ernie Martin, who lost a congressional campaign. Both will be out of office next year and still have political viability.

Any competition will be a welcome spark after the dreary results of 2018.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.