Incumbent Democratic Kaua‘i state Sen. Gary Hooser and Republican challenger Maryanne Kusaka are both confident of out-dueling the other in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general election. Both Hooser and Kusaka want to extend their political careers, and to expand the
Incumbent Democratic Kaua‘i state Sen. Gary Hooser and Republican challenger Maryanne Kusaka are both confident of out-dueling the other in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general election.
Both Hooser and Kusaka want to extend their political careers, and to expand the influence of their political parties on Kaua‘i.
Both candidates carry the weight of the power of the parties on their shoulders.
Hooser has gained the endorsements of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, U.S. House Rep. Daniel Akaka, the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Kaua‘i chapter of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and the SHOPO board of directors.
Kusaka, a former mayor of Kaua‘i, is a strong ally of Gov. Linda Lingle and Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste. She is endorsed by the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association and Hawaii Medical Political Action Committee.
Hooser is upbeat and buoyant in the final week before the Nov. 2 general election.
“I feel really good. We have worked hard, and gotten positive responses from the community,” Hooser said. “And we are going to continue to work hard all the way through November 2.”
Hooser added, “We are confident they (voters) will recognize the successes of the past two years and will return me to a full four years.” Kaua‘i has more than 35,000 residents who are registered to vote in this year’s election.
“My strengths are the positive and successful track record in education, and Act 51 (the Reinventing Education Act, which was passed by the state Legislature to significantly reshape Hawai‘i’s public school system),” Hooser said.
In response to ongoing public outcry for the need to improve Hawai‘i’s public-school system, Hooser, a graduate of Radford High School on O‘ahu, became a strong advocate for the school-reform measure.
Hooser also pushed through drug legislation that has brought more than $560,000 in state funds for Kaua‘i’s first-ever drug treatment facility for island youths.
Kaua‘i County officials must match the funds before the former Kauai Humane Society building in Hanapepe can be transformed into such a facility.
Hooser said he also has “strengthened the law on drug dealing and manufacturing.”
He believes people will re-elect him to a four-year term for two reasons.
“(Their decision to do so would be) based on the values I represent, looking out for small businesses and working people, and protecting the environment, the endorsement of the Sierra Club statewide, and just about every organization that represents working people, carpenters, electricians, teachers and principals,” he said.
“I think they will vote for me if people share the values and recognize the tremendous accomplishments of my past two years, education and drugs, (to name a few).”
Among other pieces of legislation, Hooser has pushed through key measures to protect agricultural land and public access, and to fund the building of a county sewer systems serving Lihu‘e and Waimea.
Kusaka said she is confident the election-night results will turn in her favor.
“I feel that way, of course,” she said.
“We worked very hard, for many months.”
In spite of the work, her supporters, because they want to nail down a victory, feel they haven’t done enough, Kusaka said.
“In all my campaigning (when she served as mayor from 1994 to 2004), we always felt we could have done more, had more phone calls, had more small gatherings, and everything. And people felt they haven’t done enough,” she said.
“We hope we have been able to cover good ground. Of course, we are planning to win. We don’t want to disappoint our volunteers and our supporters.”
Kusaka said she is confident going into the election because “people are aware of my accomplishments (as mayor), restoring the economy, bringing back quality jobs, encouraging volunteerism and maximizing our ability to get federal funds (among many other goals reached).”
She said people are aware of her “integrity” and “that if I make a commitment, it may not be popular for everyone, but I have always done my best to follow through, as long as it was the right thing to do.”
Kusaka said that “history has proven that I have provided leadership that moves beyond party lines, builds a sense of connection with all constituents.”
She said her brand of leadership is fair and balanced, and is “decision-making for the greater good.”
Kusaka said she would excel as Kaua‘i’s new senator because she embraces honesty and leads a “principled life.
“I have always lived honestly, and I have led a principled life, and have tried to always be a good role model, because I have been a teacher (33 years of teaching experience on Kaua‘i),” she said.
Kusaka said she has tried to be a “good role model to the children I have taught all these years.”
Kusaka also said she speaks on issues that are relevant to Kauaians today.
“My commitment is to have a safe and healthy community for Kaua‘i, and to work hard to eliminate drugs, and to provide children with a school system where all children can learn and all children can succeed. I want to make sure money gets directly to the classroom,” Kusaka said.
She said she advocates a position on taxes that sits well with Kauaians.
“I have taken action to commit myself not to raise taxes,” Kusaka said.
“We support small businesses, and I want to stop adding taxes and fees that raise our cost of living.”
For more information on the candidacy of Hooser, please go to www.hooser.org or e-mail gary@hooser.org.
For Kusaka’s candidacy, please go to www.votekusaka.com.
Lester Chang, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
