10-20-2008, 04:33 AM
EDITED VERSION:
Some do run as Democrats, others in nonpartisan races may or may not highlight their party affiliations...their choice, for their reasons. It is the ELECTION LAWS that state whether the election for specific posts are partisan or nonpartisan.
Big Island VOTERS elected to have nonpartisan elections for mayor and council seats within the last decade. Prior to that, the elections for mayor and council seats were partisan, just like the state and national elections.
Faye Hanohano runs as a Democrat and faces Republican Fred Blas in the general election for the state legislature because state law makes that a partisan race. She defeated fellow Democrats Tony Marzi and Steve Sparks to be the Democratic candidate in the general election. So Faye is not even in a nonpartisan election as you originally stated.
And Rep. Hanohano was written up sometime earlier this year for having the best attendance and voting record of any of the Big Island legislators by none other than Stephens Media. She was recently endorsed for reelection by the Honolulu Advertiser for the funds she has garnered for Pahoa schools and other Puna needs. She strongly opposed (in a losing state legislative battle) GMO taro and voted for and supported all the AARP issues at the legislature. Yes, she is a strong union person but her Hawaiian and Puna roots take priority over her union background, from what I've observed.
Meanwhile, Fred Blas is one of the Republican candidates the Lingle administration is pushing to get LINGLE'S agendas stronger support in the legislature. Listening to his campaign promises, he doesn't even understand the basic differences between state and county governance. And Lingle's whole slate (which includes Guy Enriques and Andy Smith) has a strong fundamentalist religious base.
So take your pick. Just be educated about it.
Some do run as Democrats, others in nonpartisan races may or may not highlight their party affiliations...their choice, for their reasons. It is the ELECTION LAWS that state whether the election for specific posts are partisan or nonpartisan.
Big Island VOTERS elected to have nonpartisan elections for mayor and council seats within the last decade. Prior to that, the elections for mayor and council seats were partisan, just like the state and national elections.
Faye Hanohano runs as a Democrat and faces Republican Fred Blas in the general election for the state legislature because state law makes that a partisan race. She defeated fellow Democrats Tony Marzi and Steve Sparks to be the Democratic candidate in the general election. So Faye is not even in a nonpartisan election as you originally stated.
And Rep. Hanohano was written up sometime earlier this year for having the best attendance and voting record of any of the Big Island legislators by none other than Stephens Media. She was recently endorsed for reelection by the Honolulu Advertiser for the funds she has garnered for Pahoa schools and other Puna needs. She strongly opposed (in a losing state legislative battle) GMO taro and voted for and supported all the AARP issues at the legislature. Yes, she is a strong union person but her Hawaiian and Puna roots take priority over her union background, from what I've observed.
Meanwhile, Fred Blas is one of the Republican candidates the Lingle administration is pushing to get LINGLE'S agendas stronger support in the legislature. Listening to his campaign promises, he doesn't even understand the basic differences between state and county governance. And Lingle's whole slate (which includes Guy Enriques and Andy Smith) has a strong fundamentalist religious base.
So take your pick. Just be educated about it.