What party are you in? I’m getting the news from the street that Maui people belong to three parties: Throw the Rascals Out, Prosecute Them All, and Why Should I Care? The traditional Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, etc., designations seem to matter much less. Personally, I have some sympathy for the Throw the Rascals Out party, but I also want to exempt some elected officials. (No, I’m not about to say which ones those are.) But, regardless of your general opinion, the time has come already to start thinking which officeholders are rascals and which are public servants. This is a purely personal consideration, but by knowing whose up for re-election now, you’ll have time to try out your thoughts on friends, fast-food cashiers and passersby.
Like ’em or not, Gov. Lingle and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona are not on the ballot until 2010. However, for Maui voters, two of our three State Senators have to run for reelection. Senator Shan Tsutsui, District 4, Central Maui, is safe for two more years. Senator Roz Baker, District 5, South and West Maui; and Senator J. Kalani English, District 6, East and Upcountry Maui and Neighbor Islands, are up for reelection this November. Rascals or heroes? You decide.
All of our representatives in the State House are on the ballot. Make yourself a list and mark each one “Keeper” or “Junk,” as you will. They are Representative Joe Souki, District 8, West Central Maui; Representative Bob Nakasone, District 9, East Central Maui; Representative Angus McKelvey, District 10, West Maui; Representative Joe Bertram III, District 11, South Maui; Representative Kyle T. Yamashita, District 12, Upcountry Maui; and Representative D. Mele Carroll, District 13, East Maui and Neighbor Islands. If it really is a Throw-the-Rascals-Out year, Maui could get 100 percent new representation in the House.
The other state-active elective offices you’ll decide or confirm on November 4 are one School Board office and two members of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees. Maui island’s OHA trustee, Boyd P. Mossman, is not up for consideration this year. The Moloka‘i Trustee, Collette Y. Machado, is; and one no-island-residency seat, the one held by Haunani Apoliona is up for reelection. Also, Mary J. Cochran, representing Maui on the Second Department School District has to defend her seat in 2008.
I think it is entirely appropriate for each of us to choose to vote or not vote in contests for OHA Trustee seats and the School Board. My personal decision—not meant to be a recommendation for you—is simple: If a Hawaiian asks me to vote in the OHA election, I will, and I’ll vote as that person asks; if a parent of school-age children asks me to vote in the School Board election, I will, and I’ll vote as that person asks. Those promises are based on more than it seems. I will vote as requested by Hawaiians or parents that I trust, people I believe have thought about their own votes and care about the outcome for sound reasons.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares does not have to run this year. However, as always, in every even-numbered year, the entire Maui County Council is up for reelection. The time to start finding out what you think of the councilmembers is now. It may take a while to label them “Rascals to Be Pitched” or “Loyal Servants to Be Kept.”
You probably know which councilmember represents your own area of Maui County, but here’s the list for the record: The Maui County Councilmember for East Maui is Bill Kauakea Medeiros; for West Maui, Jo Anne Johnson; for Wailuku-Waihe‘e-Waikapu, Mike Victorino; for Kahului, Joseph Pontanilla; for South Maui, Michelle Anderson; for Makawao-Ha‘iku-Pa‘ia, Mike Molina; for Upcountry, Gladys Coelho Baisa; for Lana‘i, Riki Hokama; and for Moloka‘i, Danny A. Mateo.
Actually, you can leave Riki Hokama off your Rascal-or-Servant checklist because he is ineligible for reelection due to term limits. Councilmembers can serve only five elected terms of two years. If the “evil” term limits make you feel sympathy for the folks who get pitched out, start now to feel sorry for Jo Anne Johnson and Mike Molina. They each have only one more two-year term before they hit the wall—unless they land on too many rascal lists.
By the time you read this, the election season will officially have begun. Starting on February 1, candidates for Hawai‘i election, including all county elections, can begin recording their intention to run for office by picking up the nomination forms. Stop. Think about it for a moment. That means… what? It means that if you have decided this is the year to throw the rascals out, it may also be the year that you have to stop sitting on your hands. Maybe you have to pick up the nomination papers yourself and start working to get voters out to support the change you have in mind.