Alex Santiago, the new chairman of the Hawai’i Democratic Party, said yesterday he will be coming to Kaua’i more often to listen to what Kauaians want from his political party and government. The visits will be part of stepped-up efforts
Alex Santiago, the new chairman of the Hawai’i Democratic Party, said yesterday he will be coming to Kaua’i more often to listen to what Kauaians want from his political party and government.
The visits will be part of stepped-up efforts by the Hawai’i Democratic Party to reach out to residents, respond to their needs and to resurrect its political dominance after Hawai’i residents elected Republican Linda Lingle as governor last year.
Santiago visited Kaua’i yesterday and attended a gathering at the Hanama’ulu Cafe that was put on by the Hawai’i Democratic Party. Top Democratic leaders from Kaua’i were to have attended.
Santiago was accompanied by his wife Darylene, Jill Tokuda, executive director of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i, and Clyde Kodani, a key member of the Kaua’i branch of the party.
Santiago talked about the need to overcome differences among party members that hurt the party’s chances in last year’s governor’s race.
He said he wanted to serve as “bridge” between veteran and freshman lawmakers, build a new media machine to reach voters and put a strong Democrat in the governor’s office in 2006.
The 45-year-old Santiago was recently unanimously selected as the chairman of his party, succeeding Mark Forman, who had been interim chairman since March.
On future visits to Kaua’i, Santiago said he plans to work with Kaua’i County legislators and Kaua’i members of the Hawai’i Democratic Party to push forward the goals of the party. Kaua’i has traditionally been a stronghold for the Hawai’i Democratic Party.
“One reason I come to Kaua’i is to listen,” Santiago said. “I am here to listen to Kaua’i people … The hard-core Democrats who have been carrying the banner for so many years, to show them that the new Democratic party is emerging and how it is relevant.”
Santiago and Tokuda promised to hold town meetings with party members on Kaua’i in the future.
“The Democratic Party has a lot to learn from the neighbor islands. It goes along with what Alex has said. We are listening,” Tokuda said.
Santiago said Kaua’i has a special place in heart.
As a younger man, Santiago said he participated in environmental awareness programs in Waimea Canyon, built trails, hiked into Kalalau Valley and spent time in the Polihale area. He and his wife came to Kaua’i on their honeymoon 23 years ago.
“To me, this is the most beautiful island in the state, and I cherish it,” Santiago said.
Santiago said meshing the diverse interests of his party will be among his toughest challenges, but that it can be done.
“We have extremely liberal ideas when it comes to economic diversification as well as some conservative views,” he said. “Because of the diversity, sometimes it leads us to disagreement, as we have seen year in and year out through the legislative process.”
Santiago said he wanted “to see all of us embrace each other’s differences, and not focus on how they divide us, but focus on how the differences identify us.”
Santiago said he would work aggressively toward that goal.
“I have a sense of responsibility to make sure that the next generation (of public officials) coming up respect what went before,” he said. “I hope to be the bridge between the old and new generation of legislators.”
While party members have their differences, Santiago said he believed they all embraced core values of the party – integrity and accountability to the public and voters. “We should all put people first,” Santiago said.
News stories in recent years about the criminal activities of elected officials who are members of the party have partly sullied the party’s image, Santiago said.
In spite of the fallout, the Hawai’i Democratic Party was “able to return more Democrats to the House than in previous years due to hardworking Democrats at the grassroots level,” Santiago said.
He said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai’i and his effectiveness in Congress have served to remind Hawai’i residents his party has stellar leaders.
Many longtime Democratic legislators have the same integrity and have been effective in office for many years.
People haven’t heard about their achievements, but when they do, more will vote for Democratic Party candidates in the future, Santiago predicted.
Veteran House Reps. Ezra Kanoho, Bertha Kawakami and Hermina Morita and Kauai Sen. Gary Hooser are credit to the party, and “people on Kaua’i should be proud of them,” Santiago said.
Santiago said Hawai’i residents “are Democrats at heart. It goes back to historical roots and continues. Our demographics is changing, and many people coming to Hawai’i are strong Democrats.”
In his new position, he said he has no plans to interfere with the day-to-day work of elected officials who are party members.
Santiago said his political style is one of collaboration and cooperation. “I see elected officials as the conduit through which people can express their needs and concerns,” he said.
As head of the Hawai’i Democratic Party, Santiago said another one of his main goals is to put a Democrat back into the governor’s office in 2006.
“You need a strong candidate and you need a strong party capable of organizing itself to support that one good candidate. I believe that will happen in 2006,” Santiago said.
He also said he wants to make the party relevant to the needs of today’s’ voters, and that calls for listening to their requests and responding to them.
The conviction of some legislators for crimes and the perception the Hawai’i Democratic Party has not listen to public demands helped contribute to the party losing its 40-year-old grip on Hawai’i’s politics last year when voters elected Lingle as governor, Santiago said.
Santiago said Lingle won because “Republicans spent a lot of money, much of which came from the mainland, Republicans were organized and she (Lingle) spent the last six years campaigning.”
Santiago said Lingle ran a good campaign, but, from his perspective, she has fallen down on two key campaign promises.
“She said she was going to repeal tax on food and drugs, but fiscal realities are sinking in,” he said.
Santiago said Lingle said she would uncover waste and fraud in government, yet “her budget fell extremely short” in providing the “basic needs of our society.”
Santiago said his party has learned numerous lessons from last year’s gubernatorial election that will make a difference in the next race.
“The message from Lingle’s win is that we are not down. We are listening,” Santiago said. “We know there needs to be forward movement of the party and that there need to be changes made, although they will not happen overnight. But they will be made.”
Santiago served in the state House of Representatives from 1990 to 2000. He was chairman of the House Health and Ocean Marines Resources Committee and was the majority whip from 1996 to 1999.
Santiago currently works a health and human services consultant to businesses.
