As vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, my responsibilities include being a voting member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In addition, I serve on the State Central Committee (SCC), am a member of the SCC executive committee (ExCom), and a member of the Kauai Democratic Party County Committee (KDPCC).
Lots of acronyms, lots of meetings — and as my wife Claudette is fond to say, “You can’t eat a title” 😉 Yes, the meetings can be tedious and time consuming, and yes sometimes you wonder if it’s all worth the time spent.
The good news is that I love the work, and believe without a doubt that yes, it is indeed worth the time spent. Through the changing of public policy, our world can be made a better place. In Hawaii the majority of those elected to public office, and who of course control changes in public policy — are Democrats.
In 2020 the DPH will conduct our Presidential Preference Poll, a process that determines which Democratic candidate for president will have the support of Hawaii’s convention delegates. While our population is small, when it comes to elections of any kind — small numbers matter. There is no shortage of stories about elections won or lost by just a handful of votes (think Florida).
The DPH has a “party platform” and “resolutions” which lay out the core values of the Democratic Party. Increasingly we are pressing upon those elected to public office under the Democratic Party banner, to more aggressively honor and support those values. While some view the party as a toothless and “paper tiger” when it comes to holding elected Democrats accountable, it is my goal and that of many others in the party to reverse this perception.
Many in the party are fond to say “Our primary mission is to elect Democrats.” Speaking only for myself and not in my official capacity, I prefer to say “Our primary mission is to support the Democratic values grounded in our platform, and to elect Democrats who are committed also to supporting those same values.”
Here in Hawaii, our government and political institutions are already overwhelmingly Democrats. In my opinion, we don’t just need more Democrats but rather we need more Democrats who believe in the core values of the party and who are willing to actually implement public policy that moves the party agenda forward in a meaningful way.
Again to be clear — I speak and write here not in my official capacity but as an individual Democrat who also happens to be the Party Vice-Chair.
In the coming weeks, I along with Hawaii’s three other DNC members will attend the DNC meetings being held in San Francisco.
There are about 447 voting members of the DNC and while our Hawaii delegation is small, every vote and every voice does indeed matter.
Among other issues, I am co-sponsoring a resolution supporting a position that climate change be the primary focus of at least one DNC sanctioned presidential primary debate. I am also supporting the establishment of a “Resolution to Establish the DNC Environmental and Climate Crisis Council” similar in nature to the “environmental caucus” I helped start in Hawaii some years ago, but on a national level.
In addition, I will be participating in and voting on numerous other resolutions as well as on matters pertaining to the upcoming Democratic National Convention to be held in Milwaukee on July 13-16, 2020.
The Hawaii Party has lots of goals for the coming year not the least of which is to expand the 2020 Hawaii Presidential Preference Poll to a “ranked choice and all mail-in voting process.” This ambitious goal has the potential to dramatically expand the number of people in Hawaii who are able to participate in choosing who will be our next president!
For those interested in meeting the four members of Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation and perhaps getting more involved in the party, please consider joining me on Aug. 31 at the Neil Blaisdell Center Pikake Room on Oahu for The Democratic Party of Hawaii annual Pupus and Politics! Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
This is a great opportunity to hear about current events and pending legislation in Congress. There will be panel consisting of Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Ed Case and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Ticket price is a suggested donation of only $50 per person. You can register online at either of the following links: bit.ly/2MnepWZ or bit.ly/2YdF3sz.
Please know that I understand the event is on Oahu, but for those that travel frequently and or those with family on Oahu – I hope you will consider attending. And yes, I also know there is another political party or two, or perhaps even three that exist in Hawaii. If being a Democrat is not for you, I get it … but please … just get off the couch … join some political party that does resonate with you – and get involved!
P.S. Did I already say that what I write here is not done so in my official capacity as vice-chair of the party? The Democratic Party of Hawaii prides itself on having a “big tent” which translates to an organization with many opinions and positions. The opinions and positions expressed here today are only my own.
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Gary Hooser formerly served in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kauai County Council and was former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. He serves presently in a volunteer capacity as board president of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) and is executive director of the Pono Hawaii Initiative.
