Small Business Hawaii | Volume 23 Number 12 | December 1998
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
The '98 Hawaii Election has come and gone - and we blew it. There is stunning and profound disappointment and regret that our fellow citizens continue to support a regime that has brought the state to the economic abyss, and thousands of citizens to bankruptcy and economic hopelessness. Only 68% of registered voters bothered to vote-less than in '94. No change in Governor, state House or Senate. None in Congress. No Constitutional Convention. This wasn't just another election. The aftermath was like a funeral, a death in the family, because the supporters of Linda Lingle and change, believed, were committed, dedicated, and not paid to support her vision. They realized the stakes and the cost of another loss. Was there a message from the election, described as the most important since Statehood? It was close and many said the Governor "got the message" from nearly 200,000 people who voted against him. But did he? "There wasn't any message" said longtime Democrat insider politician and Speaker of the House Joe Souki about the '98 election. Sure, it was close - 5,200 votes, a little more than 1%- the closest a Republican had come to winning the Governor's race since 1962. But close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Democrats and unions only solidified their political stranglehold on these Islands. The loss was a bitter disappointment, especially among small businesses, who had worked so hard - and risked so much in supporting a Neighbor Island Republican woman. A double digit lead evaporated during the 45 days between the September primary and November 3 General as the machine rallied behind the embattled Governor. In truth, Lingle was running against Governor Ben Cayetano, Vicky Cayetano, Mazie Hirono, the ever-treacherous Frank Fasi, U.S. Senators Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka, Representatives Patsy Mink and Neil Abercrombie, the Democrat Party, local candidates, unions and many special interests. But that's not news. The election was actually lost in the final days of the campaign. Stung by charges (later dismissed) related to exceeding a voluntary spending limit during the Primary - a limit Cayetano refused to sign - the Lingle effort seemed to shut down its advertising entirely even though there was money, giving the impression the campaign ran out of gas. Then there were those unanswered TV debate questions, lack of clarity, and a host of other things that the grass roots campaign didn't seem to handle effectively. Meanwhile, the 40-year experienced majority monopoly party, and its public employee union allies, were unrelenting in spending (more than $6 million), creating fear in the hearts of island families ("vote for Lingle and you will lose your job, retirement and health care...") dividing ethnic and social groups, and using public facilities and resources for campaigning. Questions arose involving alleged fraudulent and missing ballots; the election was determined by 10 votes per precinct. There was an insidious whispering campaign on Ms. Lingle's sexual orientation, Jewish religion and that she was neither married nor had children. Pleas to "stay local" and reject Mainlanders and the tie-in of Lingle to Newt Gingrich. All designed to skirt issues and play on fear and ethnicity. It worked. Add to this 4,500 votes for the 3rd party Libertarian candidates, another 3,500 blank or spoiled ballots, and this ended a dream begun more than a year ago. Revolution? Change? Not this year. "Local Values," as narrowly defined by the incumbents, not economic realities, carried the day-again. Hawaii will pay the price in a more steeply downward economic spiral. The $1 billion tobacco windfall won't solve our fiscal problems nor improve our business climate. Is there ANY good news? Yes. Souki finally got one message - he was dumped as Speaker by dissident Democrats in favor of former Finance Chair, Calvin Say. There were many thousands of people who got actively involved and energized in the political process for the first time. They are the future. In 36 years of helping in Hawaii campaigns, I've not seen a better, more dedicated working group of volunteers. Finally, we in small business won't roll over, will never give up, and we WILL find a way to change and improve. Newly elected 3rd party Governor of Minnesota, former professional wrestler and actor, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, captured the nation's attention. What got him elected? He campaigned on a strong theme of CUTTING TAXES and REDUCING GOVERNMENT. Too many Republicans ran from this basic message, attempting to sound more "moderate." The City still hasn't met its $63 million loan obligation for the failed and criminally flawed Ewa Estates project, but it has stepped up its PR effort to unload the properties while dropping prices further. The City's rail transit scheme is back again, disguised as a transportation option - the only one it is pushing. This time it is "light" rail (read: "trolley") and once more fails to pass muster regarding actual costs for construction, operation and maintenance related to actual utilization. Unions will push for it so it would provide short term, expensive jobs. Thankfully, there are many vital things besides politics and campaigns. As this year ends, our sincerest Holiday Greetings. Mahalo for past support. Prepare for a better New Year; you have the power to make it happen.
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Editor: Sam Slom
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