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Think it’s easy to run for lieutenant governor, the least demanding yet second-highest-ranking job in state government?

It’s not.

Because of the hot spotlight on races for governor, Honolulu mayor and a host of other campaigns, there’s been little attention given to the LG contest.

Props, then to and the American Studies Graduate Studies Program (full disclosure: I’m a graduate) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for sponsoring a forum where the LG candidates will discuss education.

Those expected to attend are Democrats Lyla Berg, Brian Schatz, Norman Sakamoto, Jon Riki Karamatsu, Gary Hooser and Bobby Bunda, and Republicans Lynn Finnegan and Adrienne King.

It’s tonight (yep, Monday, Labor Day) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the UH Manoa School of Architecture Auditorium. A for the governor candidates is set for Sept. 12 from 2-4 p.m.

Just to give some insight into what a candidate goes through to get elected, consider some of the rules from an instruction sheet and agenda for the education forum:

• We would like you to arrive at the auditorium by 5:45 pm, when we will have each of you draw a number that will determine your seating for the event and the order in which you will be asked questions.ÌýThis will also give you the opportunity to lay out any campaign literature that you may have brought on tables provided in the foyer of the auditorium.ÌýPlease remember, no posters or banners are allowed.

• 6:20 p.m.: You may find your seat on the stage. We will provide you with water. We would like all candidates to be seated and comfortable by 6:25 p.m.

• 6:30 p.m. The moderator, Dr. Neal Milner, will begin the program.ÌýHe will outline the rules for the evening, the time that each of you will have to answer the questions you are given for each round, and how you will be informed of the time you have left for your answers.ÌýHe will also explain how the order for answering questions has been determined, and then will outline the order of introductions.
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• 6:35 pm.ÌýRound One: Each candidate will have 2 min. to answer the following two questions:

1. Please introduce yourself, and as part of your intro, explain what you feel should be the priorities of the next administration when it comes to education in Hawaii?ÌýÌý

2. As Lieutenant Governor, you also serve as the Secretary of State for Hawaii, and offer the state’s public face to the world. Hawaii’s public image took a beating last year, because of the decision to balance the DOE’s budget with 34 educational furlough days over two years.ÌýHow will you rebuild confidence in Hawaii’s commitment to educational excellence both at home and abroad?Ìý

• We are giving you these questions in advance so that you have some time to think about your responses. We hope that this will provide an opportunity for thoughtful answers, which are sometimes difficult to provide under time constraints.

• 7:15 pm.ÌýRound Two: Each candidate will have 90 sec. to answer. Each of you will have the opportunity to answer all questions asked.

• 8:15 pm.ÌýRound Three: 1 min. answers.ÌýWe will have been collecting questions on 3×5 cards from the audience members, and we will choose two or three (depending on the time remaining) to pose to all of you.ÌýNeal will ask the question, and you will have one minute to respond.

• 8:30 pm. Neal will wrap up Round Three, and remind the audience that if they would like to ask questions of the candidates, that you will be available just outside the auditorium after the forum ends.ÌýÌý

• There should be paid parking available in the parking lot underneath the Architecture building…If this lot is full, there may be additional parking on the street (free on holidays) or inside the Upper Campus (see map).ÌýAll on campus parking is free on Sept. 6th, Labor Day.

• Thanks for coming, and we look forward to seeing you here!