Despite the sultry summer weather here in Hawai`i, Mazie Hirono is only accelerating her indefatigable island hopping as she meets with residents throughout the beautiful, far-flung Second Congressional District (covering the entire state except urban Honolulu).
Mazie Hirono
Last week, she participated in the first candidate forum in this race, conducted by the Progressive Democrats of Hawai`i. Here's a video of KHNL's coverage:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Additional news and notes are below the fold.
The candidate forum was also covered by Hawai`i Public Radio. Here's the audio clip:
http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/...
I'm proud to be supporting Mazie, who has a noteworthy track record of serving Hawai`i's people. You can learn more about her on her campaign website:
http://mazieforcongress.com
And I'm pleased to report that she continues to run a strong campaign as we approach the Sept. 23 Democratic primary, as partially evidenced by her endorsements from the following organizations:
EMILY's List, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority, and the Hawai`i Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Oh, and Hawai`i's keiki love her too:
"Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono earned approximately 60 percent of the student leaders' votes"
Thus far, Mazie is the only candidate to secure several major endorsements. But I'm thrilled to say that Mazie isn't running as if she's a frontrunner. Every day of the week, she's simply and humbly meeting with local residents in a "neighbor-to-neighbor" grassroots campaign.
Unfortunately (but predictably), her frontrunner status is leading to attacks from some of her competitors in the race for this open seat. Mazie's campaign is unfazed though. Mazie's positive message of progressive values is moving forward, undeterred.
Interestingly, Mazie has used an article in The Nation by Bernie Horn as the starting point for her stump speech (in which she emphasizes the values that will guide her in Congress):
Progressive Values 101
Her stump speech is unusual in at least a couple of respects. First, isn't cool that a Nation article has actually inspired a political candidate (and that she acknowledges it)? Second, I don't know of many political candidates who proudly tout their civil libertarian credentials (specifically including opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation!) in speeches to general audiences.
I'll try to provide additional updates as the campaign moves forward. But I have to give the Progressive Democrats of Hawai`i credit for being all over this race. Not only did they conduct the first (and thus far only) candidate forum, they've also collected detailed policy questionnaires from all Democratic candidates. Here's Mazie's completed questionnaire (on the PDH blog):
http://pd-hawaii.com/...
So, that's just a brief campaign update on HI-02. Mahalo for listening.
Now, if you'll please allow me, here's some voting information for kama`aina:
Absentee ballots may be requested here:
http://www.hawaii.gov/...
Early walk-in voting runs from Sept. 11 to 21. Please contact elections officials for more information:
State Office of Elections: (808)453-8683
City and County of Honolulu: (808)523-4293
County of Hawaii: (808)961-8277
County of Maui: (808)270-7749
County of Kauai: (808)241-6350
Aloha!
Where government has no proper role, the progressive value we should speak of is "freedom." - Bernie Horn