by Andrew Walden
According to KITV, Senate Ways and Means Chair David Ige will today announce he is challenging Neil Abercrombie for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Because Ige’s SD 16 (Pearl City) is up for election in 2014, this means that Ige will not be running for reelection to the Senate. Abercrombie has raised $2M from the usual suspects. According to the Campaign Spending Commission, Ige had $73K cash on hand as of Dec 31, 2012.
KITV: Ige to challenge Abercrombie for governor
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KHON: Candidacy announcement could shake up Hawaii’s political landscape
Dante Carpenter, chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, says, “I wish him [Ige] well and that he and the governor will keep it positive moving forward. May the best man win.”
“It’s good for the people of Hawaii to have a choice on that side. We on the Republican Party are still looking at a couple key people who have not said yes or no,” Republican Party of Hawaii Chair David Chang said.
Chang says one of those key people is former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.
“We are hearing rumors that Lt. Gov. Tsutsui will even see a challenger. It will be interesting to see the next several months,” Chang said.
Sen. Espero says he is also eyeing a seat in Washington, D.C. and plans to make an announcement later this month.
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CB: Civil Beat poll recently found that less than half of voters approve of Abercrombie’s job performance....
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AP: Ige said his candidacy isn't about running against Abercrombie....
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WaPo: Abercrombie is unpopular. Polling throughout 2012 showed his approval rating hovering around 40 percent. He also irked allies of late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) when he appointed Brian Schatz (D) to fill his seat, despite Inouye’s wish that Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) fill his spot. Hanabusa, a close ally of Inouye, is running against Schatz.
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HNN: Gov. Abercrombie's campaign manager, Bill Kaneko, released the following statement after the announcement of state Sen. David Ige's intention to run for governor in 2014:
"We welcome Sen. David Ige into the race for governor. He has had a long career as a state senator for the Leeward District of O‘ahu. Voters will have an opportunity to hear and evaluate both candidates' respective legislative and executive experiences, track records and philosophies. Elections are all about choices. That is the democratic process, and voters will have a chance to engage with the candidates on critical issues that face all of us.
"Under Gov. Abercrombie's strong leadership, the state's fiscal situation is stabilized, the economy is growing, and the residents of Hawai‘i are enjoying a period of prosperity and optimism. He has brought in and supported a new generation of political leadership in Hawai‘i, and we are fully committed to his reelection in 2014."
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Ige Senate Campaign Website: http://www.davidige.org/
Senate Majority: Sen David Y Ige
Senate Majority: Sen David Ige
Borreca: Ige Led 'Maturation Process' on Pension Debt
Star-Adv July 9, 2013: The pension fund has a debt of $10.9 billion.
According to Moody's Investors Service, the debt is 132 percent of the Hawaii state revenues. On a per capita basis, the debt comes out to $7,923. Viewed another way, it is 16 percent of the Hawaii gross domestic product.
The pension fund gives retirement, disability and survivor benefits to 113,282 active and retired state and county employees.
Last week, Abercrombie took a big step and signed three bills that will go a long way toward paying the debt. It won't be easy or much fun — no one is going to stand up and cheer because Hawaii is paying its debts — but if not started, our bond sales would not be popular and it would cost more for Hawaii to borrow money.
Kalbert Young, state budget director, watched as Abercrombie signed the legislation, House Bill 546, which requires the state and counties to put in a specific amount of money every year to resolve the debt.
"This is a game changer," said Young, calling it "a clear message to financial institutions that the state of Hawaii takes very seriously building its financial capabilities to meet all of its financial obligations."
An actuary will perform a study to figure out how much we are going to pay every year. If the state doesn't pay up, the law requires the money to come out of the general excise tax; if the counties don't pay, the money comes straight out the hotel room tax that was supposed to go to the counties.
During the beginning of this year's legislative session, the Abercrombie administration opposed the plan, but then switched its position and gave its support. The counties never liked the idea, members of the state House were skeptical, but when the administration changed its position, the bill moved.
The Senate Ways and Means chairman, Sen. David Ige, was the bill's biggest booster, and after the signing, he said, "Paying down these liabilities will have a positive impact on the state's bond rating and ensure that Hawaii's future is not handicapped by increasingly burdensome debt."
All this serves as an interesting maturation process....
read ... Let’s see if fiscal restraint by state curbs city’s impulse
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David Ige to Run for Governor
Ige Campaign News Release Announcing Candidacy July 9, 2013
Hawaii State Senator David Ige today released the following statement regarding his plans to run for Governor of the State of Hawaii in the 2014 election.
“Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Governor of the State of Hawaii. Every campaign starts with family: they are with you from the beginning, pick you up when you stumble, and help you celebrate and cherish the successes. That’s why I chose to make this announcement from our home,” Ige said.
“As my family and I contemplated whether to run for Governor, we spoke with many friends and neighbors. Through those conversations, I realized that people here in Hawaii are hungry for a governor they can believe in and trust.”
“The citizens of Hawaii continue to face serious issues. We need to strengthen and diversify our economy, improve education, and re-engineer government to better serve the people. It is time for real and enduring solutions to ensure that we are taking the right steps to create opportunities for our children and future generations.”
“But government cannot do this alone. It takes people who are committed and engaged, and a leader who listens and works together to find solutions. Throughout my career in the legislature, I worked in this way, bringing people together to identify common goals, find solutions, and build trust in our government. As Governor of the State of Hawaii, I will work with our communities in that same way to move our state forward.
“I want to thank the people of Aiea and Pearl City for the honor and privilege to serve as their representative in the legislature for the past 28 years and will continue to serve through the end of my term. I am proud of what we have accomplished together. It has prepared me for this next step. I have always had a strong desire and commitment to do more as a leader of our state.”
“Our campaign will celebrate the diversity that is so unique to Hawaii. It will be about listening to your stories, and hearing your voices so we can create a government that engages the citizens of Hawaii to collaboratively solve problems and pursue opportunities. In the next few weeks, I will be reaching out to meet people in their homes and at coffee hours, and talking with business leaders and workers, community leaders, volunteers, teachers and students to listen to real concerns. We have begun to lay the foundation for a true grassroots campaign. I hope that you will join us in restoring belief, honor and trust in government in Hawaii.”
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(Biography released by Ige Campaign July 9, 2014)
State Senator David Y. Ige for Governor
Engineering a better Hawaii for us all ...
Who is David Ige?
David Y. Ige, 56, is a proven leader with public and private sector success in resolving complex fiscal, technological, and educational issues collaboratively.
David is a …
Legislative Leader
David was first appointed to the State House of Representatives in 1985 by Governor George Ariyoshi to fill the seat vacated by then Representative Arnold Morgado. In 1986, he was elected by the Pearl City-Aiea community to continue serving in the House, and in 1994, he was elected to the State Senate.
David currently serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which is responsible for crafting the State’s budget and financial plan and accounting for all fiscal measures that impact Hawaii. David has served as Majority Technology Leader and has chaired legislative committees on Higher Education, Education and Technology, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Health, and Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs.
Focusing his time and energy on education, technology, healthcare reform, economic development, public access, and legislative reform, David has compiled an impressive record of achievement based on a single goal – to improve our quality of life. His accomplishments have been recognized nationally as well as locally. Among his most recent awards, the National Association of Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) honored David with the State Technology Innovator Award in 2010 for his leadership in the Hawaii State Senate’s Paperless Initiative. In 2011, he was named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the Hawaii AARP and Senator of the Year by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. And in 2009 - 2010, David received the Advocacy Award from the American Heart Association Hawaii Chapter.
Successful Engineer
David is a successful electrical engineer and project manager with a 34-year career devoted to information technology, telecommunications, networks, and responsible public policy.
David is currently Program/Project Manager with Robert A. Ige and Associates, Inc. He also served as Vice President of Engineering at NetEnterprise and as Project Engineer/Senior Principal Engineer at Pihana Pacific, which established the first world class data center and carrier-neutral Internet exchange in Hawaii and the Pacific. Before that, David worked as an engineer for GTE Hawaiian Tel for more than 18 years.
As an engineer, David knows and understands the role technology has in our lives and in the State’s information and telecommunications policies. David co-authored the Hawaii Telecommunications and Information Industries Act that established the State information network and created the Hawaii Information Network Corporation. He has also been at the center of Hawaii’s efforts to diversify its economy. David was responsible for establishing seed capital and venture capital programs, software development initiatives, and technology transfer programs.
Son of Hawaii
David was born and raised in Pearl City and is the fifth of six sons of Tokio and Tsurue Ige. During World War II, Tokio served in the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After the war, David’s dad worked as a steelworker on construction projects while his mom worked as a nurse and dental assistant. Tokio Ige passed away in 2005 at the age of 86. Now retired, Tsurue resides in Pearl City.
David attended public schools in Pearl City – Pearl City Elementary School, Highlands Intermediate School, and Pearl City High School. He also participated in community sports, beginning with eight years of playing in the Pearl City Little League.
At the newly built Pearl City High School, David excelled in many activities. In his junior year, he was elected Student Body Vice President, and he served as Senior Class President the following year. David also led his varsity tennis team to a championship and was honored as the “Scholar-Athlete of the Year.” He graduated fifth in his class of more than 500 students in 1975.
David then attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. While at UH, David served as Student Body Secretary and an officer of several honor societies as well as Treasure and Vice-President of his fraternity, Phi Delta Sigma. Most importantly, UH is where David met his wife Dawn.
After college, while working for GTE Hawaiian Tel, David took graduate courses at UH and earned a master of Business Administration degree in Decisions Sciences. In 1986, Hawaii Business Magazine named David one of the university’s Top Ten MBA students.
David now lives in Aiea with his wife, Dawn, and their three children, Lauren, Amy, and Matthew.
Great Choice for Governor of the State of Hawaii
David recognizes that we are many people, but one state. He knows that as one state, an island state with an incredibly diverse social, ethnic, and geographic mix, it is critical that we that we deal respectfully with each other as we work on solving the problems before us.
An engineer in private practice and an engineer of change and progress in the State Legislature, David has worked hard to create a better Hawaii for us all. That’s the continuing challenge – to engineer a better tomorrow by educating our children today. To use the latest technological advances to help reform our schools, open up our government, and improve our economy. To engage all of Hawaii’s people to help solve our problems and to have the heart, the mind, and the will to get things done. That’s what David Ige has brought to the State Senate, and that’s what he will bring to the Office of Governor of the State of Hawaii.
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