STATEMENT FROM GOV. LINDA LINGLE ON SEN. OLYMPIA SNOWE'S ANNOUNCEMENT NOT TO SEEK REELECTION

HONOLULU - Former Governor and candidate for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat Linda Lingle released the following statement today about Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-Maine) announcement that she would not seek reelection.

"Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe today announced her plans to retire from the U.S. Senate, after serving over 33 years in Congress. Citing 'an atmosphere of polarization and my way or the highway' ideologies, Snowe will not seek reelection in what would have been her fourth term.

"The U.S. Senate is losing a dedicated public servant with the retirement of Olympia Snowe. She has selflessly served the people of Maine from her time in both houses of Maine's legislature to both houses of U.S. Congress. Her comments on the atmosphere in Washington are sadly true and with the challenges America faces today, we can no longer afford political gamesmanship and partisan gridlock.

"The American people deserve elected leaders, like Olympia Snowe, who are dedicated to finding a common purpose to build a stronger future for our country. If elected to the U.S. Senate, I will be committed to finding common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and, most importantly, will always put the people of Hawaii first in everything I do."

-Former Gov. Linda Lingle

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