One year ago, Gov. David Ige walked into the state Capitol to give his second State of the State address with fellow Democrats muttering under their breath, “Governor No Can Do.”
Tomorrow, Ige returns for his third speech and the muttering and murmuring has grown into a distinct and sharp voice of complaint.
Twelve months ago, Ige shocked legislators and education bureaucrats alike with his bold announcement that he would air-condition 1,000 classrooms in one year by using funds from a little-used state energy saving program.
Getting chill in class was a non-starter. The Department of Education was caught unaware, the money had to be taken from another budget and the whole project, as of year’s end, totaled 42 classrooms, not 1,000.
Also in one year, Ige has watched as the state tax collections were predicted to grow by 5.5 percent, but instead, state officials said tax collections for the five-month period from July to November had increased by only seven-tenths of 1 percent, according to a Star-Advertiser report.
With Ige, whose background as an electrical engineer is often referenced, the story is not about numbers; it is about people and the inability of the governor to communicate or get things done.
In an announcement last year, asking for changes in the Department of Education, Ige said there needed to be a “reboot.”
Now critics are saying that if anyone needs to hit the restart button, it is the Pearl City Democrat.
“I think oftentimes it is very hard for us as leaders to take our own advice, but if you look at the governor and how he has proceeded forward with his administration and its plans, I think he needs a major reboot,” said Sen. Jill Tokuda, Ways and Means chairwoman.
Tokuda knows her stuff. Senate President Ron Kouchi singled her out for praise during his legislative opening day speech last week, saying she should be thanked for keeping the state budget on track, resisting attempts to overspend and forcing accountability on state departments.
While there is already speculation that Tokuda,
40, a Kaneohe Democrat and
10-year legislative veteran, is going to run for higher office in two years, Tokuda doesn’t discuss the issue, saying doing a good job in office creates its own opportunities.
At the same time, Tokuda has a career path similar to Ige’s: both headed up the education committee and both have led Ways and Means, charged with preparing the state budget.
Today Tokuda has some direct advice for Ige, citing his “a lack of decisiveness and clear leadership.”
“When he does say something it is not followed through with a clear plan of action. If you commit to something, commit to it,” Tokuda said.
She thinks Ige does not show strong enough leadership. For instance, Tokuda said, the county is asking for a permanent tax increase and while Ige says he favors rail, there is no coherent plan or even public thinking on the issue.
“I haven’t heard much of anything that clearly dictates what they are going to do. He cannot be a silent partner in this, a silent voice; he needs to talk about what his position is,” Tokuda said.
Meanwhile Ige, who has about $400,000 in his campaign treasury and is planning a fundraiser at the Hawaii Okinawa Center next week, has such a low-profile political presence that it is almost invisible.
Like nature, politics abhors a vacuum, so if the Ige governorship/campaign doesn’t coherently step up, it could be replaced.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.
