HGEA primary election endorsements.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 20, 2012
Contact: Jodi Endo Chai
Senior Advisor – Communications & Strategic Planning
543-0029 or 741-4542
HGEA’S 2012 PRIMARY ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS
Slate of endorsed candidates announced for state and county races
HGEA is pleased to announce its list of endorsed candidates for the 2012 Primary Election.
“After much deliberation, we have a full slate of candidates we believe can make a positive
difference in our state and counties,” said State Political Action Committee Chair Jon Gasper.
“Our political action committees spent many hours conducting interviews with candidates, and
studying their backgrounds and positions. We believe this list of endorsed candidates represents
individuals who share HGEA’s commitment to supporting public employees and improving the
lives of Hawaii’s people.”
The political action committees are composed of HGEA members across the state from each of
HGEA’s bargaining units, and excluded/managerial and retirees unit.
The HGEA-endorsed candidates are:
(NOTE: An “open” endorsement means the union does not endorse a candidate. Members are
encouraged to support and vote for any of the candidates in that race. “No action taken" means
candidates did not contact HGEA for endorsement consideration in a timely manner or at all. “No
endorsement” means the union determines that none of the candidates are suitable for
endorsement and support.)
* Incumbent
STATE SENATE
District 1: Donald Ikeda
District 2: Open
District 3: Josh Green*
District 4: Open
District 5: Shan Tsutsui*
(more)

2. HGEA Endorsed Candidates
2012 Primary Election
Page 2
STATE SENATE (continued)
District 6: Roz Baker*
District 7: Kalani English*
District 8: Ron Kouchi*
District 9: Kurt Lajala
District 10: Les Ihara*
District 11: Brian Taniguchi*
District 12: Brickwood Galuteria*
District 13: Suzanne Chun Oakland*
District 14: Open
District 15: Glenn Wakai*
District 16: David Ige*
District 17: Alex Sonson
District 18: Michelle Kidani*
District 19: Will Espero*
District 20: Mike Gabbard*
District 21: Maile Shimabukuro*
District 22: Donovan Dela Cruz*
District 23: Clayton Hee*
District 24: Jill Tokuda*
District 25: Pohai Ryan*
STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District 1: Mark Nakashima*
District 2: Clift Tsuji*
District 3: Richard Onishi
District 4: Faye Hanohano*
District 5: Denny Coffman*
District 6: Kalei Akaka
District 7: Open
District 8: Joe Souki*
District 9: Gil Keith-Agaran*
District 10: Angus McKelvey*
District 11: Colin Hanlon
District 12: Kyle Yamashita*
District 13: Mele Carroll*
District 14: Derek Kawakami*
District 15: Open
District 16: Daynette “Dee” Morikawa*
District 17: No Action Taken
District 18: Mark Hashem*
District 19: Bert Kobayashi
District 20: Open
District 21: Scott Nishimoto*
District 22: Tom Brower*
District 23: Isaac Choy*
(more)

3. HGEA Endorsed Candidates
2012 Primary Election
Page 3
STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (continued)
District 24: Della Au Belatti*
District 25: Sylvia Luke*
District 26: Scott Saiki*
District 27: Takashi Ohno
District 28: John Mizuno*
District 29: Karl Rhoads*
District 30: Nicole Velasco
District 31: Open
District 32: Linda Ichiyama*
District 33: K. Mark Takai*
District 34: Eloise Tungpalan
District 35: Roy Takumi*
District 36: Marilyn Lee*
District 37: Ryan Yamane*
District 38: Henry Aquino*
District 39: Ty Cullen*
District 40: No Action Taken
District 41: Matthew LoPresti
District 42: No Endorsement
District 43: Hanalei Aipoalani
District 44: Jo Jordan*
District 45: Jake Bradshaw
District 46: Marcus Oshiro*
District 47: No Action Taken
District 48: Jessica Wooley*
District 49: Ken Ito*
District 50: No Action Taken
District 51: Chris Lee*
CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU
City Council
District 1: Open
District 3: Ikaika Anderson*
District 5: Ann Kobayashi*
District 7: Joey Manahan
District 9: Ron Menor
Prosecuting Attorney
Keith Kaneshiro*
COUNTY OF HAWAII
County Council
District 1: Valerie Poindexter
District 2: Open
(more)

4. HGEA Endorsed Candidates
2012 Primary Election
Page 4
COUNTY OF HAWAII (continued)
District 3: Dennis “Fresh” Onishi*
District 4: Fred Blas*
District 5: Zendo Kern
District 6: Maile David or Bradley Westervelt
District 7: Dru Kanuha
District 8: Karen Eoff
District 9: Oliver “Sonny” Shimaoka
Prosecuting Attorney
Lincoln Ashida
COUNTY OF MAUI
County Council
East Maui: Bob Carroll*
Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu: Mike Victorino*
Kahului: Open
Molokai: Manuwai Peters
Pukalani-Kula-Ulupalakua: Gladys Baisa*
Lanai: Riki Hokama*
West Maui: No Action Taken
South Maui: Don Couch, Jr.*
Makawao-Haiku-Paia: Mike White*
COUNTY OF KAUAI
County Council
Jay Furfaro*
Gary Hooser
Ross Kagawa
KipuKai Kualii*
Nadine Nakamura*
Mel Rapozo*
Prosecuting Attorney
Justin Kollar
EARLIER ENDORSEMENTS
HGEA previously announced its endorsements for the following candidates:
U.S. President
Barack Obama
U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden
(more)

5. HGEA Endorsed Candidates
2012 Primary Election
Page 5
EARLIER ENDORSEMENTS (continued)
U.S. Senate
Mazie Hirono
U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional District 1
Colleen Hanabusa
U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional District 2
Mufi Hannemann
City & County of Honolulu Mayor
Kirk Caldwell
County of Hawaii Mayor
Billy Kenoi
# # #
About HGEA
HGEA was founded in 1934 to ensure fair and equitable representation for government employees. HGEA is the
largest labor union in Hawaii, with more than 42,000 members. HGEA represents state and county employees in
seven bargaining units. HGEA also serves a large associate membership composed primarily of retirees, other state
and county employees and officials, and federal and private sector employees.