2012 MauiTime Hawaii Primary Election Candidate Endorsements

When you don't vote, you have no voice.

There's no truer statement in a democracy. Sure, we can bitch and moan about the influence of money in political elections, or the stranglehold "special interests" have over our legislatures or even the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of most candidates, but when it comes down to it, unless we actually punch holes in a ballot, we're just kidding ourselves. Voting requires work, effort and, above all, coherent thought.

U.S. House of Representatives, Second District, Democrat Tulsi Gabbard
Here's another tough race. Given the massive name recognition enjoyed by former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, you'd think he'd have this race locked up. But he doesn't. Which is good, because Hannemann's too pro-tourism industry and anti-same-sex marriage for our tastes, and he still comes off way too thug-like in debates.

Trial lawyer Rafael Del Castillo is pushing for more health care reform but he lacks political experience. Esther Kia'aina is a solid liberal with too much political experience: notably, her current and former, respectively, roles as Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Advocate and Kamehameha Schools land manager. Miles Shiratori's 2010 website touting his gubernatorial run is sadly easier to find than his current website. And Bob Marx is a Hawaii Island environmental attorney who shares Kia'aina's progressive ideology. Marx and Kia'aina are great candidates, but we're going with Honolulu Councilmember Tulsi Gabbard.

Supported by EMILY's List (which backs pro-choice women) and the Sierra Club, she also stepped out of dad state Senator Mike Gabbard's gay-baiting shadow by unequivocally telling us (via Twitter!) that she personally supports same-sex marriage, which we view as a human right.

The following is an excerpt from Mauitime.  To view the full article, click here