Small Business Hawaii | Volume 23 Number 10 | October 1998
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
How important is one vote? Just ask the several Democrat candidates who could have used those few extra votes in Hawaii's Primary Election September 19. State Rep. Roy Takumi (36th, Pearl City/Waipahu) trailed most of the evening and won by 9 votes. Incumbent Senator Robert Bunda (22nd, Wahiawa)finished the nite 1 vote ahead but boosted that lead to 15 votes by the final tally. Rod Tam (13th, Punchbowl/Nuuanu) trailed first-time candidate, business woman (contractor) and BIA president-elect, Audrey Hidano, all night squeeking by with 29 votes. One vote - YOUR vote - IS important; don't waste it November 3. Several of the so-called 8 "dissident" Democrat Senators were targeted by the ruling insider Democrats who feared (with good reason!) that Senate President Norman Mizuguchi might be replaced by Randy Iwase in '99. Their efforts paid off with the defeat of veterans Jimmy Aki, Malama Solomon, and Lehua Fernandes-Salling. Cayetano-Mizuguchi loyalists Roz Baker and Wayne Metcalf also lost. Iwase faces a tough General. If Iwase prevails, and Republicans add 2-3 with 2-3 independent Democrats, there yet may be a change in Senate leadership. Al Gore's remarks at McKinley High School included the following, "...Governor Ben Cayetano has steered a steady course and the signs of economic recovery are everywhere." Is this analogous to "education second to none?" Where are those signs??? The only signs we seem to see are "Going Out of Business" and "Space For Lease." The Governor picked up on Gore's remarks and said, "...This election is not about the economy. The economy is coming back. This election is about values...." And that's the problem. Congressman Neil Abercombie screamed at the audience, "We're going to take back this state in November." Take back? From whom? His party has dominated for four decades. What a contrast between the Cayetano Administration, entrenched Democrats and the Linda Lingle campaign. The Governor is blatently playing the race card, using negative ads, trying to scare voters and conjuring up the past. A Democrat incumbent has never had to do this before.This is understandable if you don't have a record to run on, or want to run from your record, and can only promise more of the same. No issues, no record and no vision. "We're not stupid," is the theme of the brainless commercials put together by the ad agency for Mr. Cayetano. The agency should be ashamed to collect its fees for this work, but its not. Lingle, by contrast, is positive, energetic, confident and offering alternatives. She points out this is not about Democrats or Republicans but about Hawaii's future.The public is smart enough to make the right choice. Some small business members came out in support of the Governor's reelection. Interestingly, nearly all of the 11 owners are in a state-regulated business, enjoy a state contract, or have recently been harassed by a state agency such as labor, taxation or HIOSH. Another backer of the Gov, lobbyist Dick Botti of LISH, doing his best to tell his members Ben is good for business. Tough sell! Ethics? In Hawaii? The opinion by the State Ethics Commission that the Cayetano "Worker Appreciation Day" rally on Capitol grounds during work hours was "informational and educational" not political, shows again that union rules override state statutes and ethics. Time for a clean sweep including replacement of the Commission's executive who seems more concerned about misaddressed mail than obvious and serious ethical conflicts. While Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are making all-America proud, and several fans were great by returning key home run balls while passing up money, The IRS' original threat regarding McGwire's 62nd home run ball - it could be taxed as a gift even if the fan returned it without any monetary gain - shows you what's wrong with the IRS and our tax system. At least the IRS Commissioner had the good sense to rescind the threat. Regal Travel accused Bank of Hawaii of being an unlicensed travel agent for selling Hawaiian Airlines travel coupons from its ATMs. Bankoh says it's not in the travel business. In the future, you may be able to pump gas, buy hamburger and your wardrobe from an ATM. Missed opportunity in space: Hawaii was one of 17 states considered for expanded space research activity but our state bowed out early. No leadership and no coordination. Bishop Estate employee and former State Budget Director, Yukio Takemoto, (and several State Senators) were named by the Attorney General as subjects of a special Grand Jury looking into Estate financial matters. In 1993 Takemoto was investigated for State Employee Retirement System abuses. ALL are DEMOCRATS; all from the monopoly party. Must read: "We Were Warned" cover story of the current Honolulu magazine by A Kam Napier. No crisis now; we were warned often. More than 500 women heard former US Labor Secretary Lynn Martin in mid-September at a luncheon arranged by SBH members Karen Huffman and Carol Ai. Her comments about women entrepreneurs were dynamite. VOTE TUESDAY, November 3 and finish what you began in September. Your vote will make a difference. Kids Voting Hawaii allows your kids to vote alongside of you too. Vote as if their future depends on it-it does!
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Editor: Sam Slom
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