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At least a half-dozen politicians are already eyeing the race for Hawaii lieutenant governor next year, including Maui’s mayor and a number of state legislators. Read more

At least a half-dozen politicians are already eyeing the race for Hawaii lieutenant governor next year, including Maui’s mayor and a number of state legislators.

The assistant chief executive post, which will pay $154,812 next year, has served as a launching pad for higher office for many Hawaii politicians, including former Govs. George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano, and more recently, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz — though aspiring contenders are quick to say that that’s not their reason for running.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, whose term ends next year, has already said publicly that he plans to run for the seat currently occupied by Shan Tsutsui. State Sen. Josh Green (D, Naalehu-­Kailua-Kona) also confirmed last week his plans to run.

Those considering a bid for lieutenant governor include former House Speaker Joe Souki (D, Waihee-­Waiehu-Wailuku), Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-­Iroquois Point) and Rep. Kaniela Ing (D, South Maui). Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kailua-Kaneohe) is also a possible contender, though she says she’s also considering the governor’s race.

Tsutsui to give up post

Tsutsui, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2012, could technically run for another term, but he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in March it was “very doubtful” he would seek re-­election. Tsutsui is looking at a run for Maui mayor next year instead, in which case he said he planned to step down early as lieutenant governor to campaign. Bowing out early could influence who wins his seat next year.

The Senate president, currently Ron Kouchi, would be offered the position of lieutenant governor, in accordance with the state Constitution, if the post is left vacant before the election. However, Kouchi has said he isn’t interested. If he were to decline the post, it would then be offered to the House speaker, currently Scott Saiki. Saiki also says he isn’t interested in taking over as lieutenant governor.

Attorney General Doug Chin would be next in line, but declined to comment on whether he would consider stepping in.

Tsutsui “is doing a great job for Hawaii,” Chin said in an emailed statement. “As long as he serves in that position, I’m not going to weigh in on this hypothetical.”

If Tsutsui steps down early, it could influence who ultimately wins the seat in the 2018 election. Being the incumbent, even if it’s a short-term, interim appointment, could prove to be an advantage with voters.

Maui mayor gears up for run

Arakawa, 65, will finish up his third term as Maui mayor next year, and says that if elected lieutenant governor he wants to improve the functioning of government departments.

“I cannot find any state department that is running efficiently at the level that it should be, and as mayor we have to deal with a lot of the state departments, and the employees I have to talk to are telling me that there are many challenges within the departments,” Arakawa said. “And it doesn’t really matter which of the departments we talk about — they have some real problems.”

Arakawa also took a swipe at Gov. David Ige, who he called a “really nice person” but said is lacking in leadership skills.

“Do I think he is doing a good job? The answer is no,” said Arakawa. “I think he is doing his best, which is what the problem is.”

Arakawa says he hopes that Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho will run for governor against Ige and win so that he can be his second in command. (Carvalho said he has not made a final decision on whether to run for the office.)

Hawaii legislators jockey for position

For state legislators the decision to run for lieutenant governor isn’t an easy one. They will have to resign from their seats in order to campaign.

Green, 47, said he has already decided to run for the seat to advance initiatives to cope with homelessness and improve the health care “safety net.” He said he is the only candidate who has experience working directly in both areas by treating the homeless as a physician, and by working within the health care system.

“I care very, very deeply about people, and I’m trying to translate my experiences as a physician and senator into a statewide responsibility to work and care for people,” he said. Green is an emergency room physician at Kohala Hospital on Hawaii island.

He said he does not plan to use the lieutenant governor’s office as a “steppingstone” to higher office. The lieutenant governor’s job “is what you make out of it, and that’s what I’ll make out of it,” adding, “I will work in the trenches on homelessness and health care for whoever our governor is, whether it’s David or somebody else.”

Green emphasized that he has worked continuously as a physician during his four years in the House and nine years in the Senate. “It’s kept me very in touch with what people struggle with, and I’m hopeful that as lieutenant governor that I’ll be able to really engage people and work on their challenges,” he said.

Several other state legislators are also debating a run for lieutenant governor, but say it will probably be a number of months before they make a final decision. The candidate filing deadline isn’t until June 5, 2018.

Souki, 84, who was ousted as House speaker on the last day of this year’s legislative session, said he’s considering running, and that his longtime government experience would make him a good lieutenant governor.

Souki has been a member of the House since 1982 and twice served as House speaker.

Espero, 56, the Ewa Beach senator, said he is also considering a run, adding that he’s spent 26 years in government, including 18 years in the Legislature. Espero currently serves as chairman of the Senate Housing Committee and has been a leading advocate in recent years for greater accountability and transparency within the police departments.

One of the Legislature’s youngest members, Rep. Kaniela Ing, 29, also said he’s considering running to defy “big-money, mainland-style politics that’s been creeping its way to our islands.”

The South Maui lawmaker has served in the House since 2012 and says he would bring energy and a progressive agenda to the office.

“I think there are a lot of folks out there in the state that want to see some new blood, the younger generation stepping up, that can provide a progressive voice, that cares about the environment, that will take bold stances on issues, like legalizing marijuana, like income inequality and homelessness, and who will take a proactive approach and really look at the long-term solutions,” said Ing.

Star-Advertiser reporter Kevin Dayton contributed to this report.

Correction: A previous version of this story listed incorrect district information for Rep. Kaniela Ing. He represents South Maui.