Could it be Kusaka for Congress?

Kaua’i County Mayor Maryanne Kusaka is being actively recruited by state Republican Party chairwoman Linda Lingle and others to make a run at the U.S. House of Representatives seat currently held by Democrat Patsy Mink.

The seat represents a district comprised of rural O’ahu and all the neighbor islands.

“I think she (Kusaka) would be a very formidable candidate in that race. I think she would have a good chance to win,” said Lingle.

Beth Tokioka, county public information officer, acknowledged that Kusaka has been approached by the party to run for the House and is flattered, but has yet to make a decision about future elective office after her term expires in December 2002.

Lingle said she sought out Kusaka as a possible candidate.

“She never came to speak to me about it. I approached her,” Lingle said. “I just thought she’d be such a great candidate” because, among other things, the neighbor islands and windward O’ahu are places where Republicans hold seats in the Legislature.

“For the right Republican running there, it would be a tremendous advantage. I think it’d be a really good chance” Kusaka would win, Lingle added. “I think that Patsy Mink is out of touch with her district. She doesn’t live in the district. She doesn’t spend any time on the neighbor islands, has no staff on the neighbor islands, in fact has no staff anywhere in her district.

“All of her staff people are in downtown Honolulu and Washington, D.C., and yet her district is neighbor islands and windward O’ahu. So, I think she has been able to stay (in office) on the strength of name recognition and our inability to field a candidate who could raise the money it took.

“I think Mayor Kusaka can do that. Plus, she has a good record on the neighbor islands, a record of success and achievement.”

Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).