Hawaii Senate Primary Election Update: There's A Dem Nominee ... For Now?
Cavasso: Hawaii Does Not Have Unlimited Funds to Prop Up Health Connector
Maui County Report Shows Zero Glyphosate
Djou, Takai gear up for Congressional showdown
KHON: After sailing through the primary election, Republican Charles Djou opened his campaign headquarters on Sunday.
He faces Democrat Mark Takai in the race for Hawaii’s First Congressional District.
Djou held the seat for about six months after a special election in 2010. He says that experience gives him an edge.
“Five thousand miles away from Washington, D.C. It’s very easy to forget about Hawaii. And if we elect yet another freshman and put him in the minority, Hawaii is going even more isolated and easier to ignore. I’m going to be that outspoken voice in the majority caucus here that’s going to be able to deliver effectively for the people of Hawaii,” Djou said....
Djou says his record shows he can work with both parties.
“You don’t have to just take my word for it. You can look at my record of being a moderate. Of somebody who’s worked with both Republicans and Democrats who like to get things done. Because for me, it’s not about the party. It’s about people and getting things done for the people,” Djou said.
Looking ahead to the General Election, it could be a close race.
“Charles, again, I don’t think is going to pick up a lot of negatives....
KITV: "The Republicans control the House….regardless...."
read ... Showdown
Tourism Industry Trades $500K for Homeless Vote
SA: ...Waikiki visitor industry officials say they are trying to raise $500,000 annually to work with the Institute for Human Services on alleviating the area's chronic homeless problem, but in the meantime they want the City Council to pass a pair of contentious bills aimed at cleaning up the tourism district.
The Council's Zoning and Planning Committee plans on Aug. 28 to revisit the bills, which would prohibit sitting and lying on sidewalks and urinating and defecating in public areas of Waikiki. The committee shelved Bills 42 and 43 on July 24....
IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell, who plans to testify at an Aug. 28 Council hearing, said Waikiki laws need to be enacted to set a standard for community behavior and to encourage people to avail themselves of new shelter programs, such as rapid re-housing, clean-and-sober transitions and permanent supportive housing.
"Right now, I think the lack of any deterrent makes it easier for people to refuse services," Mitchell said. "But beyond that, I do believe that leaving homeless individuals on the street makes them much more vulnerable to both being assaulted by people and developing some serious infections."
(Translation: This will save the hospitals money, ahem....)
Mitchell said new prohibitions would build on the effectiveness of the city's stored property sweeps and police crackdowns, which have resulted in a slight uptick in shelter use.
"I believe that when people are forced to move they realize that the shelter is not as bad of an option as they might have originally thought," she said.
read ... Compassionate Disruption Costs Money
Hawaii Legislature could be a considerably quieter place come January
CB: The Hawaii Legislature could be a considerably quieter place come January. In addition to Hanohano, Malama Solomon, Rida Cabanilla and Clayton Hee won’t be around. Some will be missed, others won’t.
read ... Good Riddance
Hanabusa Preparing for Rematch in 2016
CB: ...One thing’s for sure. From the day she leaves the House of Representatives, possibly before, Colleen Hanabusa will be organizing for 2016. No gracious loser she – with Colleen “it’s personal.” A lot of voters who might otherwise have voted for her apparently got that message. And they didn’t like it. But time may soften the perception.
On matters of policy, what you’re for and what you’re against, Schatz and Hanabusa are two peas in a pod. So while Colleen is going to local charity auctions, being seen at high school football games, supporting good community causes in front of the TV cameras and then in late 2015 holding coffee hours and afterwards going door to door “to keep in touch with the community” before officially declaring she’s up for a 2016 re-match, Brian had better be on that long plane trip home at least once a month, if not more, and be equally visible, asking what he can do for his constituents, more like someone from the House of Representatives than the Senate (he’s only got a House-like two years to prove himself).
KOS: Given the snafu on the 800 ballots which were overlooked or not counted on Maui, confidence in the Elections Office is at an all time low.
read ... No Gracious Loser
Caldwell Stocking Up For A Showdown
CB: Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s first term isn’t up until 2016, but that hasn’t stopped him from padding his campaign reserves.
Caldwell reported more than $1.4 million in campaign contributions during the current election cycle, which began Nov. 7, 2012, the day after he beat former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano in the general election.
What’s striking is Caldwell only raised $1.7 million for the entire 2012 election cycle, which included a $50,000 loan.
If Caldwell’s current fundraising trends continue, the mayor could have more than $3 million in the bank to help fend off any potential challengers.
And it’s entirely possible he’ll need every penny.
Former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle — who Caldwell and Cayetano pushed out during the 2012 primary — has said he would like to run again.
Another viable candidate is Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin, who won re-election Saturday to his seat in District 2, which includes Wahiawa, the North Shore and much of Windward Oahu.
Martin has said before that he wants to be mayor. He’s also been in the middle of some public feuds with Caldwell and his administration, over everything from budgetary earmarks to combating homelessness.
While Hawaii Campaign Spending data shows Carlisle has been relatively inactive ever since losing the 2012 election, Martin’s latest financial report shows that as of July 25 he had $327,000 in cash on hand.
Reality: Convicted Cocaine Dealer replaces Advertiser columnist as Ernie Martin’s Campaign Treasurer
read ... 2016 COMING
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