Party supporting him for mayor Kaua’i County Councilman Bryan Baptiste is the Republican Party’s choice to replace fellow GOP member Maryanne Kusaka in the mayor’s office in next year’s election. Linda Lingle, chairwoman of the Republicans in Hawai’i, has been
Party supporting him for mayor
Kaua’i County Councilman Bryan Baptiste is the Republican Party’s choice to replace fellow GOP member Maryanne Kusaka in the mayor’s office in next year’s election.
Linda Lingle, chairwoman of the Republicans in Hawai’i, has been offering Baptiste the party’s full support, introducing him to other prominent Republicans in the state and tutoring him on campaigning for an executive office.
Baptiste is “the best (Republican) candidate” for mayor, Lingle said Tuesday.
Baptiste hasn’t yet announced his intention to seek the mayor’s office, but he said earlier this week, “I’m seriously considering it.”
He’s among at least five council members or other county officials who are either planning to run for mayor or are thinking about it. The others are councilmen Ron Kouchi, Gary Hooser and Randal Valenciano, and Wally Rezentes, Sr., Kusaka’s top assistant.
On another matter, Lingle said she doubts Kusaka will run for any office next year, including as her running mate in the governor’s race.
Lingle, who is making a second bid for governor, was responding to questions about the potential for Kusaka to run with her as a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Kusaka is ineligible to run for re-election as mayor at the end of next year because of Kaua’i County’s limit of two consecutive terms in the office. Speculation surfaced earlier this year, largely through Lingle, that Kusaka would run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink (D-2nd District). But Kusaka announced last week that she won’t be a candidate for that office, although she didn’t rule out running for a state position after finishing her eight years as mayor.
Yesterday, Kusaka said she hasn’t closed any doors, other than last week’s announcement that she wouldn’t seek national office. “It’s too early for me to comment on my future political plans. We’ll make an announcement at the appropriate time,” said.
Lingle said Kusaka “has a lot to offer the people of Hawai’i. Her ability to rally people together to achieve common goals is a special gift that she has, and the result is evident in Kaua’i’s comeback” from Hurricane ‘Iniki.
“However, it is my impression” that Kusaka won’t be a candidate for any office in 2002, Lingle said.
As reported earlier, though, Lingle and the Republican Party have big plans to keep Kusaka active recruiting candidates and taking roles in Kaua’i portions of campaigns – including Lingle’s.
“I hope she will be helping me in my campaign to become Hawai’i’s next governor. I would look forward to working with her,” Lingle said.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
