HGEA endorses 17 candidates

Okata on hand to name them at what he calls 'critical time'

Maui News
Tuesday, August 6, 2002

By ILIMA LOOMIS
Staff Writer

WAILUKU — The Hawaii Government Employees Association on Monday announced its endorsements for Maui’s primary election candidates.

Mayor James “Kimo” Apana headed the list of 17 candidates, which drew from a heavily Democratic slate and included nine incumbents.

HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata acknowledged that his personal appearance to introduce the endorsements on Maui was “unique,” saying it reflected the seriousness of selecting candidates during a “critical time.”

The candidates were chosen by HGEA’s Maui Division board.

“Our decisions are not just based on what (the candidates) do for the public employees,” but what candidates do for the community as a whole, Okata said. He congratulated Maui and the state for preserving jobs even during a slowing economy.

“We haven’t had any layoffs in the County of Maui or in the state,” he said.

In addition to Apana, the union endorsed Democrats Shan Tsutsui, Roz Baker and J. Kalani English for Maui state Senate seats and Democratic Reps. Joe Souki and Bob Nakasone for re-election to their state House seats as well as Democrats Jim Rouse and Frances Segundo in their bids for seats in the state House of Representatives.

In the nonpartisan races for Maui County Council, the union backed incumbent Council Members Bob Carroll, Dain Kane, Mike Molina and Riki Hokama and council challengers James “Kimo” Falconer and G. Lehua “Mahi” Clubb.

U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink received a nod from the union for re-election.

The union gave a dual endorsement to Democratic gubernatorial contenders D.G. “Andy” Anderson and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.

Apana said unions will continue to play an important role in the election by making endorsements, giving information on candidates to members and turning out manpower to help with campaigns.

“Unions are (a force) not of dollars, but of people,” he said.

Okata said that while a high percentage of candidates endorsed by his union have been elected, polls show that the number of HGEA members that vote according to union recommendations is “an even split.”

HGEA is the largest union in the state, with more than 42,000 members. It has 4,392 members in Maui County.

Okata said that the economy would be the union’s leading issue during the campaign.

He said streamlining the economy should include updating the equipment and computers used by public workers to improve efficiency within the existing work force.

He added that hotels, airlines and other private-sector tourism industries should take on a larger role in the promotion of Hawaii as a destination, now funded largely by the state government.

“Those monies could be better spent on health care and public education,” he said.

Okata also called for a review of state tax policies.

“We need a comprehensive review of the system to determine whether or not the burden is fairly distributed,” he said.

Overall, he stressed the importance of preserving workers’ rights while fostering business in Hawaii.

While labor and the Democratic Party “will continue to work hand in hand,” Okata said there might be some HGEA endorsements of Republican candidates in the Nov. 5 general election.

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