By TOM CALLIS By TOM CALLIS ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald staff writer This election year, Big Island voters may see a few more new names than usual on their ballot. The creation of a fourth state Senate seat for the island is
By TOM CALLIS
Tribune-Herald staff writer
This election year, Big Island voters may see a few more new names than usual on their ballot.
The creation of a fourth state Senate seat for the island is opening the door for new candidates, and redrawing of district lines is causing better known incumbents to run for different seats, essentially creating a game of political musical chairs.
But what changes that will bring, if any, to those who represent the island in Honolulu remains to be seen.
For Republicans, long resigned to the periphery of Hawaii politics, the shuffling, known as redistricting, has its pros and cons.
On the plus side, it allows the party to put up a challenge to seats where the incumbent has been drawn out of the district, said Daryl Smith, Hawaii County GOP chairman.
Smith, a first-time candidate, is running for one of those seats, state Senate District 2, currently held by Sen. Gil Kahele, Democrat.
Kahele, due to redistricting, is being moved to District 1, where he is running for re-election.
But that seat is still not incumbent free.
Democratic Rep. Bob Herkes, who currently represents House District 5, has tossed his hat into the ring.
That race is one of six state House or Senate contests on the Big Island this year with multiple parties running, including five with Republicans, and two with either a Green or Libertarian candidate.
Smith said he is running because it is “way past time for change,” adding he believes the Republican Party can take away two seats this year on the Big Island.
Steven Pavao, Hawaii County Democratic Party chairman, doesn’t see that happening.
Pavao said he expects the Democrats to hold onto all seven Big Island House seats and grab the fourth state Senate seat.
He said the election will be about who can best create jobs and improve the economy, adding the Democrats have the leadership experience to make it happen.
“I think we are on the right track,” Pavao said, “and I think the Democrats have to let people know what efforts have been made to continue to grow and move in the right direction.”
State GOP Chairman David Chang said redistricting also presents some challenges for the minority party since the process made it uncertain which district some challengers would be running in.
That gives them less time to get their names out there, Chang said.
“There’s a lot less time to run,” he said. “The advantage we had (with redistricting) is very much negated.”
Chang said he sees five or six races that the party will be competitive in this year, including two on the Big Island — state House District 5 and state Senate District 2.
But he said the party is also focused on not losing the small ground it holds in the state capitol.
The GOP has nine seats in the state Legislature, but may lose two of those because their representatives are stepping down.
“So even to be where we are at, we may have to pick up two new seats we didn’t have before,” Chang said.
The election does include one high-profile Republican candidate, former Gov. Linda Lingle, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Daniel Akaka.
Chang said he expects her campaign to provide a boost for the party this year, but he added it may not impact other races.
“All politics are local,” he said. “Ultimately, each candidate needs to run their own race.”
Pavao said he doesn’t see Lingle having much of an impact.
“Even when she ran for re-election and won by a landslide,” he said, “she didn’t carry any additional people on her coat tails.”
While Democrats will focus on job creation on the campaign trail, Chang said the GOP’s message will continue to be that the state’s one-party dominate system doesn’t work.
“How you dictate whether the Legislature is doing a good job, is the results they provide,” he said. “It’s quite clear that the Democrats in office have not been doing a good job.”
Pavao said the Democratic Party has been successful because it best reflects the values of Hawaii voters, including workers’ rights, and has a track record of getting the state through troubled waters.
“We have gotten through tough times before,” he said. “The Democrats have led us out of the past. There’s no reason that should not continue.”
Voters will make their choice during the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 6 general elections.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.