Experience rules in House races

Just as with the state Senate, every seat in the state House is up for grabs this year, thanks to the recent reapportionment of Hawaii’s voting districts.

Five of the 51 House incumbents decided to end their House careers after the 2012 session: Democrats Jerry Chang (District 2), Robert Herkes (District 5) and Joey Manahan (District 29), and Republicans Barbara Marumoto (District 19) and Kymberly Marcos Pine (District 43).

The departures of Marumoto and Pine, in particular, mean the Republican presence in the House is even more at stake than ever, considering the party was down to just eight members in the last legislative session. On the other hand, two Republicans face no opposition and will be automatically re-elected: Gene Ward (District 17) and Cynthia Thielen (District 50).

Democratic incumbents running unopposed this year are Clifton Tsuji (District 2), Cindy Evans (District 7), Joe Souki (District 8), Derek Kawakami (District 14), James Tokioka (District 15), Sylvia Luke (District 25), Roy Takumi (District 35), Henry Aquino (District 38), and Ken Ito (District 49).

Today we look at the primary races of Districts 19 to 29 in which there are actual intra-party competitors:

» District 19 (Diamond Head-Kaimuki-Kapahulu): Between Democrats Bert Kobayashi and Brian Yamane, our nod goes to Kobayashi, who has experience as a legislator, both as a representative and a senator, from 1978 to 1994. With a Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University, Kobayashi spent two years as administrator of the 12-hospital state community hospital system, which he helped reorganize into the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. His legislative accomplishments include writing Hawaii’s first "living will" law, while his strong focus on health issues is useful at a time when transformation of our health care system, including long-term care, is under way. Should he prevail over insurance agent and Kaimuki Neighborhood Board member Yamane, he would face Republican Darrell Young in the general.

» District 20 (Palolo-St. Louis Heights-Kaimuki): House Speaker Calvin Say, who has been in the House since 1976 and its speaker since 1999, gets the nod in this Democratic primary. Generally fiscally dependable, which is saying a lot in these tough economic times, he faces community activist and real estate broker Dwight Synan. The winner will face Republican Julia Allen and Green Party candidate Keiko Bonk in the general.

» District 21 (McCully-Moiliili-Kapahulu): Scott Nishimoto is the deserving incumbent in this race, and will automatically ascend to the House if he beats Democratic challenger Clifton Takamura. A former University of Hawaii student body president, Nishimoto is an attorney and former staffer to U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and was first elected to the House in 2002. Takamura is a McCully-Moiliili neighborhood board member but has kept a comparatively low profile.

» District 24 (Moiliili-Makiki-Tantalus): It’s Democratic Rep. Della Au Belatti versus Manoa Neighborhood Board member Kimberly Case, with the winner going on to face Republic Isaiah Sabey. Belatti is a UH law school graduate who interned for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, worked in the state Senate Research Majority Office, clerked for various judges and has been a school teacher. She is a member of the Urban, Hawaiian, Filipino, Women’s, Keiki, Rural, Heritage, Kupuna and Climate Change caucuses. Case obviously cares about her community, but Belatti has been performing well since first being elected in 2006 and is likely to keep doing so.

» District 26 (Downtown- Liliha-Kakaako): Incumbent Scott Saiki is facing two enthusiastic opponents, one of whom, Lei Ahu Isa, has served in the House before as well as on the state Board of Education. The other, UH law school graduate Ryan Kapuniai, is passionate about women’s issues, but overall, Democratic stalwart Saiki has served his constituency well. The winner faces Republican Tiffany Au.

» District 27 (Nuuanu-Liliha-Alewa Heights): This is a rarity: A contested Republican primary, where GOP incumbent Corinne Ching has the advantage, being a reliable moderate Republican and the assistant minority floor leader. Her opponent, photographer Brian Kim, is more libertarian in his outlook, but has virtually no political experience. The winner goes up against Democrat Takashi Ohno in the general.

» District 29 (Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi): With no Republican candidate, this district primary is winner-take-all between Democratic incumbent Karl Rhoads and Daniel Holt. Rhoads, a George Washington University law school graduate who interned with U.S. Sen. John Kerry, is clearly the candidate with more heft. Holt is young and energetic with long-time ohana ties to his district, but Rhoads served on the Downtown Neighborhood Board for 10 years and has been a legislator since 2006. He has done well by his constituents on affordable and livable housing issues, especially from the Democratic perspective.