Seriously? That’s all we have — two and a half interesting races for 2012?
What happened to the race for mayor of Honolulu? Why isn’t that an office worth fighting over?
There are going to be 76 legislative seats up for election and a new reapportionment map, meaning some incumbents will be running in new districts, which you would think would prompt a bit more election excitement.
Republicans are hoping to be ready, but after just suffering through a mean internal reorganization, there may be problems. Still, the new interim GOP chairwoman, Beth Fukumoto, reports that a GOP goal is to compete in all 76.
"We are significantly ahead of where we were at this time during the past election cycle," she reports.
On the federal level, it appears the only race with interest in both the primary and general election is the Senate seat to be left vacant upon the expected retirement of Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Akaka and Sen. Daniel Inouye are both edging toward a formal endorsement of Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono to fill Akaka’s seat. Although the pair showed up at a Washington, D.C. fundraiser for Hirono last month, neither man has yet to utter the formal "I endorse thee."
If Inouye is reluctant to endorse in a primary election, his overarching dislike for Hirono’s major Democratic opponent, former Rep. Ed Case, is making it difficult for him to sit quietly on the sidelines.
Somewhat of a serial supporter is Randy Perreira, executive director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association. So far, he has endorsed Hirono as the head of both the AFL-CIO and the HGEA.
The Democratic winner is expected to go on to battle it out with former GOP Gov. Linda Lingle, who is expected to finally announce sometime this month. The only surprise would be if she didn’t declare for the Senate.
Lingle has already been busy in the background. Today she will be at a Manoa fundraiser for former Rep. Charles Djou. While the Hawaii Kai Republican is serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan, his wife, Stacey, is helping out.
"I plan to give an update on Charles’ activities in Afghanistan, and we’ll get to hear from Gov. Lingle, whose comments are always thought-provoking and inspirational," she said in an email appeal, asking supporters to show up today.
Former Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard are in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District, with the winner going up against a GOP candidate to be named at a later date.
It is the job of the sometimes divisive Hannemann to improve his favorability ratings and the nearly unknown Gabbard to just get a wave back when traveling through Pepeekeo.
Still, the greatest mystery is what became of the race for mayor. We hold one every four years and usually are able to attract someone to oppose the incumbent. So far there has been some tentative temperature-taking by state Sen. Clayton Hee and some even less-than-tentative rumblings from City Council chairman Ernest Martin.
Neal Milner, University of Hawaii professor of political science, says it isn’t a disinterest in politics; it is a lack of competition.
"If you think about low turnout in Hawaii, it’s not low because people hate politics. It’s low because things that mobilize people in other states, like regularly competitive elections, do not happen here," said Milner
Here’s hoping for the crowds to grow.
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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
