By NANCY COOK LAUER Stephens Media ADVERTISING The sign-wavers and bright balloons in patriotic colors. A line of volunteers in campaign T-shirts spooning up heaping helpings of beef stew and chili. Local-style music. An attentive candidate listening, smiling, hugging and
By NANCY COOK LAUER
Stephens Media
The sign-wavers and bright balloons in patriotic colors. A line of volunteers in campaign T-shirts spooning up heaping helpings of beef stew and chili. Local-style music. An attentive candidate listening, smiling, hugging and posing for photos.
All the trappings for a successful grand opening celebration were there Thursday evening when Tulsi Gabbard opened her campaign headquarters at the old Chevrolet dealership across from Hilo Shopping Center.
All the trappings, that is, except for the kind of crowd of which candidates dream. Perhaps 100 people, aside from campaign volunteers, made their way to the event that marked Gabbard’s first major Big Island event.
She might not yet bring in the crowds, but she’s bringing a youthful presence to the political scene.
“Everyone is pretty young,” acknowledged campaign co-chairwoman Blaise DeLima, daughter of local attorney and former County Council member Brian DeLima, herself only 21. “It just shows that Tulsi is bringing out the future, the new generation.”
When she was 21, Gabbard became the youngest person ever elected to the Hawaii Legislature and the youngest female in the United States elected to a state office. She’s since served 11/2 years on the Honolulu City Council and been a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Her father, Mike Gabbard, has been in the state House for five years.
Now 30, she’s a captain and company commander in the Hawaii National Guard after serving two tours in the Middle East.
But a lack of name recognition continues to plague Gabbard as she pits herself against the front-runner, former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, in her campaign for the Democratic nomination to the 2nd Congressional seat. Hannemann, just off a failed run for governor, had a commanding 65 percent to 20 percent lead over Gabbard in a poll reported Feb. 15 by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Gabbard told Stephens Media she’s serious about the race and intends to win it. She’s not doing it just to build name recognition for some future political office, she said. Instead, she wants to offer voters a clear choice, and she plans to make the most of the remaining days until the June 5 primary to be a real contender.
“Yes, I can do it and I will be able to do it. I see this as bringing an alternative to a career politician who’s been running for office for more than 25 years,” Gabbard said. “It’s a testament to the people I’m meeting on the ground every single day, meeting the people and listening to their concerns.”
The congressional seat representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, in her bid for U.S. Senate. Hilo attorney Bob Marx, Honolulu attorney Rafael del Castillo and former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Advocate Esther Kiaaina are other Democratic candidates.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
