INSIDE THE HAWAII STATE CAPITOL:

THE WORD FOR 2018 IN THE HOUSE IS THAT THERE COULD BE A 20% TURNOVER IN SEATS; HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE:

THE 8 OPEN SEATS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

Message to Hawaii Republicans from Rep Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai)  November 22, 2017 (excerpt)

BIG ISLAND:

2 Seats: In the Kailua-Kona area on the Big Island there are two seats being vacated by Representatives Lowen and Creagan who are both running for Senator Josh Green’s seat, who is running for Lt. Governor.

MAUI:

1 maybe 2 Seats: In the Kihei area of Maui there is a seat being vacated by Representative Kaniela Ing who is running for Congress in the seat vacated by Colleen Hanabusa who is running for Governor. The second seat that may open is the heavily rumored but not solidly confirmed retirement of former Speaker Joe Souki.

OAHU:

Kaneohe: 2 seats: Rep. Ito and Rep. Keohokalole are both vacating their House seats to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Jill Tokuda who is running for Lt. Governor.

Ewa Beach: 1 seat: Rep. LoPresti is vacating his House seat to run for the Senate seat vacated Sen. Wil Espero who is running for Lt. Governor.

Waianae: 1 seat: Rep. Andrea Tupola has just about done all but officially announce she is running for Governor and vacating her House Seat.

Mililani: 1 seat: though still speculative in nature, but logical in its deduction and timing, it is likely that Beth Fukumoto will try to cash in her anti-Trump chits for a run for Congress: (the Colleen Hanabusa seat).

Stay tuned there are more announcements to come; this is just a first look at the playing field for 2018.

It is now our job as Republicans to take advantage of all of these open seats. Open seats with the right candidate, that is, someone who is credible, intelligent and hard-working and who loves people and his/her community, are the best races to enter our candidates.  Data shows that when an incumbent occupies a seat, there is a 90% chance of their being reelected – even if they’re mediocre, but didn’t upset anyone by words or votes.