Maui Election

Former governor Linda Lingle returned to the Valley Isle on Tuesday for the opening of her Maui headquarters in her campaign for US Senate.

In an early show of support union leaders with the International Longshore and Wearhouse Union Local 142 on Maui endorsed Mayor Alan Arakawa, 2 years before he comes up for re-election.

The Green Party of Hawai’i has successfully completed a recent petition drive, and gained certification to receive ballot access in partisan races in Hawai’i, for the 2012 election cycle.

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald is seeking applicants for Chair of the 9-member Hawaii State Elections Commission.

US Senate candidate and former Congressman Ed Case officially files his nomination papers for election at 10 a.m. today. In a phone interview this morning, Case said he is undertaking the candidacy, “essentially because we need strong, effective leadership in Washington…

Sixteen people on Maui have already pulled papers as they consider a run for public office in the upcoming 2012 election. The candidate filing deadline is 4:30 p.m. on June 5, 2012.

Maui Republicans caucused Tuesday night to select a presidential nominee.

A total of 337 Maui voters backed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the very first Hawaii Republican Party presidential caucus last night, according to preliminary results.

For the first time in history, Hawaii Republican voters will be voting for their choice of Republican Presidential nominees in today’s GOP Hawaii caucus. Voting runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at locations across the state. There are seven voting locations on Maui, one on Lanai and one on Molokai.

Democrats throughout Hawaii caucused last night to conduct party elections and select delegates to state and national conventions. Maui Now visited the precinct meeting in Wailuku.

The convention will feature guest speakers for each of the presidential candidates. Also scheduled to speak are State House Representative George Fontaine; Maui TEA Party Chair Bill Doyle; and others…

Rep. Mazie Hirono will be on Maui for the latest edition of her congressional coffee talks. The Maui visit includes a stop at the Kihei Charter School located at the Lipoa Center in South Maui. The talk starts at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21.

Two Maui residents filed papers recently becoming the first official candidates from the Valley Isle for the upcoming 2012 Election. The candidate filing deadline is 4:30 p.m. on June 5, 2012.

Among those pulling papers were incumbent council members Mike Victorino of Wailuku, Bob Carrol of East Maui, and Don Couch of South Maui. Others pulling papers included Joe Blackburn for the council’s Wailuku residency seat, Alan Fukuyama for the Kahului seat, and Antonio Gimbernat for the US Senate.

Several bills introduced by Maui lawmakers will be heard in respective House committees today including items relating to red light cameras, vehicle boot legislation, gaming on Hawaiian Home lands, and the House version of what has become known as the “Move Over” bill.

As the 2012 Hawaii State Legislature opens for business, now is a good time to take a look at George Fontaine.

Hawaii Tourism officials have estimated that Hawaii could potentially see 6,000 new jobs created in the state as a result of the reforms in the Visit USA Act. She also voted against blocking the Obama Administration’s request to increase the US debt limit.

Congressional candidate Mufi Hannemann earned an endorsement yesterday from the 15,000 member Hawaii Construction Alliance. Hannemann is seeking the seat being vacated by US Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is running for US Sen. Daniel Akaka’s seat in 2012.

Last week the Kihei Republican briefed members of the Valley Isle Sunset Rotary Club on issues of interest to Maui voters.

Representative Joe Souki from Wailuku discusses current and future politics for Hawaii, including our dire financial situation, legalized gambling and liberalized marijuana laws.