UPDATE -- September 8, 2010 -- Dems say Hanabusa's Survey Form received

The following email was sent out by Hawaii Democratic Party Exec Director Debi Hartmann September 8

Aloha County Chairs and Secretaries,

In the complaint filed by Andy Woerner he names Colleen Hanabusa as one of the Party candidate's who did not submit a candidate survey form.  The survey form was received in this office on Aug. 18, 2010 and was subsequently omitted in the process of sending copies to the County Chairs.  A copy of her survey form has been sent to the County Chairs under separate cover.  This was an oversight on the part of DPH and we sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused. 

Debi Hartmann

Executive Director Hawaii Democratic Party

EDITOR'S NOTE: (In response, Andy Woerner has agreed to amend the below statement.  We are preserving it in its original form for your information.) 

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TOP HAWAII DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ENDORSEMENT UNDER PARTY RULES

News Release from www.andyforussenatehawaii.com

SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2010 KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII

Senator Inouye’s only Democratic challenger, Andy Woerner, sent a letter to the Hawaii Democratic Party on Friday requesting they enforce their own rules regarding eligibility for the Party’s endorsement.

According to Article IX, Section 3 of the Party’s 2010 Constitution, which is available online, “candidates shall submit Candidate Statement Forms... indicating their agreement, disagreement, and/or reservations with the Platform and Resolutions of the State and County Party" and that, a "candidate who fails to abide by these requirements shall not be eligible for endorsement".

In the letter, Mr. Woerner notes that, “the majority of candidates (and especially incumbent candidates) either failed to return their forms at all, or failed to complete them as required”.

Debi Hartmann, the Party’s Executive Director, confirmed in an email to Mr. Woerner that 60% of the candidates did not return their forms, even though the deadline was extended by one week.

Mr. Woerner viewed the forms under the supervision of West Hawaii Chair John Buckstead, but was not allowed by the Party to make copies of the documents. However, under Party rules, they are available to all members of the Party through their respective County Chairs.

Candidates whose forms were missing from the 290-page document included Gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann, Lt. Governor and former Party Chairman, Brian Schatz, and U.S. Congressional candidates Mazie Hirono and Colleen Hanabusa. Several other candidates including Senator Inouye and former U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie submitted incomplete or unsigned forms.

Mr. Woerner asked the Party “to ensure that no Party funds or events are used to support said candidates in either the Primary or General Elections”.

While he seems aware that this action is unlikely to affect the outcome of his own race, Mr. Woerner contends that, “this clear disregard for the Party's rules is an alarming indication of these candidates’ lack of respect for the members of the Democratic Party itself, and for rules in general. The ability to create and follow rules is a critical component of sound government, and is essential to the proper conduct of the offices they seek.”

Hawaii’s primary election is on September 18th. More information about the candidates can be found at: www.andyforussenatehawaii.com and www.daninouyehawaii.com. A copy of the Hawaii Democratic Party Constitution can be found at www.hawaiidemocrats.org/images/stories/constitution2010.pdf

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