Mufi to run for governor

Mufi Hannemann made the long-expected announcement yesterday that he will skip his final two years as Honolulu mayor to run for governor.

"My intention is to serve a full four-year term," Hannemann said. "I want to be governor — that's the only thing on my radar screen, and my desire to serve the public is to be the governor of Hawaii."

He wasted no time in trying to separate himself from his main opponent in the Democratic primary, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, in a rematch of a special election campaign for Congress in 1986.

"Neil has legislative experience. He does not have executive experience," Hannemann said. "Neil has been a citizen of the Beltway for 20 years. He's more familiar with Washington, D.C., than what happens at Washington Place (the governor's residence), so in many ways he is out of touch, out of step and out of place."

Abercrombie responded by seizing on Hannemann's declaration that if elected the governorship would not be his last job,

"I see the office as a cornerstone. The mayor sees it as a steppingstone," Abercrombie said. "The mayor sees politics entirely through the prism of his political career.

"He said today while he was running he's been listening to people and they want him. And all I can tell you is I've been listening to people and they want change."

Hannemann will have to resign as mayor before filing for the governor's race, but he has until a July 20 deadline to do so. He said he plans to remain on the job until then.

Hannemann heads into this primary with a significant advantage in money: $2 million in cash on hand, compared with $770,000 for Abercrombie.

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and former state Sen. John Carroll have said they will run for governor.

Aiona issued a statement saying Hawaii "can't afford" Hannemann.

"I look forward to putting my support for Hawaii's working families and small businesses against his record of raising taxes and increasing the cost of living for our residents on Oahu," Aiona said.

Hannemann said the state cannot afford four more years of the status quo from the Republicans.

"Duke has been a silent partner," he said. "You can't come across as a breath of fresh air when this is the team that brought us Furlough Fridays. This is the team that derailed the Superferry. ... You can't have it both ways."

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SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL VACANCY

Once Mufi Hannemann resigns as mayor, the City Council will have 10 days to call for a special election to fill the final two years of his term, said City Clerk Bernice Mau.

Because the vacancy occurs within 180 days of a regular election — the September primary — it can be held in tandem with that election.

Five notable candidates have declared their intent to seek the office: Kirk Caldwell, city managing director, who also would be named acting mayor once Hannemann resigns; Peter Carlisle, Honolulu prosecutor; Donovan Dela Cruz, City Council member from District 2 (Mililani Mauka-Temple Valley); Panos Prevedouros, a University of Hawaii engineering professor and anti-rail advocate; and Rod Tam, City Council member from District 6 (Downtown-Kalihi).