UPDATE: Abercrombie Opens Second Big Isle Campaign Office
The Hilo and Kailua-Kona newspapers, both owned by Stephens Media, that Democratic candidate for governor Neil Abercrombie opened a West Hawaii campaign headquarters over the weekend.
Abercrombie, a former congressman, previously opened a headquarters in Hilo on the east side of the Big Island.
“Abercrombie said the nomination for governor is going to be won on the neighbor islands,” according to a May 17 article by Stephens Media, which owns the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today. The news service quoted Abercrombie saying, “The administration’s Oahu-centric mentality has gone on too long.”
It’s not clear whether Abercrombie was taking a swipe at the administration of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, or that of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, his likely opponent for the Democratic nomination.
But when it comes to the neighbor islands swaying races for governor, he’s on to something. In Lingle’s 2002 victory over Mazie Hirono, she carried Hawaii and Maui counties in addition to Honolulu. Hirono won only Kauai.
One other point: No Honolulu mayor has ever been elected governor, including the late Frank Fasi who failed in four attempts.
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