Richard Borreca: New names, familiar faces raise interest in Honolulu’s high-stakes mayoral race

Voters like to say they are bored with the folks in office. No one is saying, “Give me a retreaded incumbent, every time.”

Seniority may actually be a disqualification in this era of political dissatisfaction.

What is wanted, they say, is a fresh face. The tricky part is voters also want to vote for known quantities. A recognizable fresh face.

Voters are not looking for strangers.

The glamour race this year, the one that is expected to get the most attention, is the election of a new mayor of Honolulu.

Already, local businessman Keith Amemiya has been pitching himself as the attractive, qualified newcomer.

Amemiya tags his campaign, “A fresh perspective for Honolulu.”

“I’ve never run for office before, but I’ll clean things up,” Amemiya says in a commercial.

The fresh-faced senior vice president with Island Holdings, parent company of Island Insurance, has experience as a former executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and is the son of former state Attorney General Ron Amemiya, but almost no name recognition.

Now, just on the verge of entering the race is someone both well-known and a political newcomer, television executive Rick Blangiardi.

The 73-year-old Massachusetts-born Blangiardi played football at the University of Hawaii in the 1960s, and went on to be an assistant coach before moving to the TV business in 1977.

He enjoyed a national reputation as a skilled, savvy television executive who helped establish Telemundo, one of the most successful Hispanic TV networks.

Hawaii, however, doesn’t know Blangiardi from the boardroom. He is the earnest, forcefully gesturing fellow who pops up most nights during the KGMB-TV 6 p.m. newscast with a commentary on local issues.

He has strongly advocated for the divisive Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island, saying halting it “may make a few people feel good for the moment — while damaging Hawaii’s reputation and economy for years to come, and doing literally nothing to address the legitimate grievances of the Hawaiian people.”

Blangiardi also is a strong supporter of the overbudget city rail project, saying in one commentary: “The city must also be more creative about other sources of money such as special fees or taxes on rail-related commercial development.” It should not, Blangiardi warns, be allowed to stop at Middle Street, urging that the whole promised project must be delivered.

That sort of forcefulness will come into play if the retiring president and general manager of Hawaii News Now does jump into the race for mayor as a well-recognized political newbie.

Perhaps the most recognized politician in the race is former U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, 68, who is running a quiet campaign, stressing social media and personal appearances.

Two other former legislators, now on the City Council, Ron Menor and Kym- berly Pine, also are running — but the well-known political force, backed by troops loyal to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, is Hanabusa.

A Hanabusa-Blangiardi contest will be a fascinating opportunity for new leadership for Honolulu.

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