www.thefilipinochronicle.com
OCTOBER 20, 2018
States Can Adopt a Popular Vote System and Restore Election Integrity WHAT’S INSIDE Outdated, Unfair: Americans Want A Popular Voting SystemS2 List of Filipino Candidates Running for OfficeS3 Make A Difference-VOTES4 Republicans or Democrats?S5 Be Informed Before Voting on the Constitutional AmendmentS7 November Elections: Let’s Break the Voter’s Apathy, Go Out and Vote!S10
T
his November 6 Americans will go to the polls to elect candidates who best mirror their values and priorities for the country. The premise is that every vote counts toward accomplishing this end. But the reality is every vote doesn’t count equally under the current Electoral College system. Even though voters are not electing a president this mid-term election, Americans are already pushing for a new method of electing our president to be implemented that is based on “Popular Vote” – meaning the winning candidate must receive the most votes. States have the constitutional power to adopt two methods: 1) proportionate representation of votes like in Maine and Nebraska that designates electoral votes equal to the percentage of votes a candidate receives; or 2) the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact wherein states agree to give all the electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national “Popular Vote.” Enough states (that total 270 electors) must agree to join the Compact in order for this system to work. Currently 11 states and the District of Columbia (totaling 172 electoral votes) already agreed to the Compact, including Hawaii when it passed the National Popular Vote Bill in 2008. Get the details in this General Election cover story on the movement to bring fairness and integrity to the nation’s voting process through a new popular vote system.
S2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
COVER STORY
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
Outdated, Unfair: Americans Want A Popular Voting System By Edwin Quinabo
I
t’s fair to argue that Americans who represent the majority in the country will be voting in this midterm election on Nov. 6 to offset political power that was taken from them. How so? Democrats won the last national presidential election by popular vote and reflected the nation’s majority. But the minority’s choice was sworn into office due to an outdated electoral system in which Donald Trump garnered the 270 required electoral votes to win. It’s not about rehashing the past at this stage, political analysts say, but what happens from this midterm election and on matters because if the electoral system is not changed, it’s possible that a majority of voters once again could find themselves in the same position in the next midterm (after this November’s) come 2022. And even if more Americans than last time vote against Trump in the next presidential election in 2020, he could be gifted another term. It’s time to begin serious talks of changing the way the nation elects the president. Given the built-in electoral system biases, many voters are asking: Isn’t in another state. In Wyoming, the mathematical weight in electoral vote is it long-overdue that the electoral college be done away with? How fair is the quadruple to one in California. voting process and how legitimate is the candidate who wins if not by way Applied to the last election, 100,000 Trump votes in three battleground of getting the most votes (popular vote)? states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania held far more numeric weight than the 2.8 million more overall votes Clinton received over Trump. Electoral College System favors the GOP Detractors of the system also say even the number of designated electorCritics have been crying foul over the disconnect between the popular al votes per state is not accurate. It is based on 2 senators plus the number vote and electoral vote since the 2000 presidential election. The majority of of U.S. representatives. The number of U.S. representatives is based on estiAmericans (Democrats) found their votes cancelled out two of the last five mated population (periodically updated) and isn’t up-to-the-day-of-election presidential elections because of the electoral college system. accurate as a popular vote system. Democrat presidential candidates Hilary Clinton and Al Gore both capCritics say the presidential race is a national election, but treated as multured the majority popular vote but were denied their rightful place. tiple state elections instead that doesn’t take into account every person’s Democrats won by popular vote six of the last seven presidential elec- vote. tions, a consistent pattern that suggests the Democratic party and their val The framers of our Constitution created the Electoral College to enues actually have been representative of the true will of most Americans for tice smaller states to join the Republic and to give them weighted influence decades, and running. of power. The Electoral College was designed to ensure less populated states But the Republican party within the same time period have shared equal are not ignored in the campaigning. or greater power (to Democrats); and the GOP’s values have been given But critics say the opposite is happening -- these smaller states collecequal or greater priority – all because of a system favorable to them. tively and by region particularly the Midwest and South now have disproportionately more influence than coastal states and large urban cities. The Electoral College System Less populated states are where candidates focus mostly all their attenRobert Reich, chancellor professor of Public Policy at the University tion and largely ignore larger states with larger populations. of California at Berkeley, said “We must make sure our democracy doesn’t Most of the attention are given to few battleground states such as Ohio, ever again elect a candidate who loses the popular vote. That means making North Carolina, and Michigan. In 2016, 273 of 399 general election camthe Electoral College irrelevant.” paign events were held in just six states The way the Electoral College works: each state holds an election; the According to nationalpopularvote.com, 94 percent of the campaign was winner of that state’s election will get all (except in Maine and Nebraska that conducted in just 12 states. A total of 24 states had zero campaign events. have proportionate representation) of the state’s designated electoral votes California and its 38 million people had one campaign event. So did (casted by designated party delegates). It is a winner-takes-all process. Texas and Illinois. New York had zero. Conceivably even if a candidate loses by one vote in a state, the entire electoral votes of that state would go to the winning candidate. And all the What do people think other votes would not count or be added to a national total. Since the 2000s most polls show overwhelming supporting for getting Another way of framing it, one candidate can win by as little as 10 votes rid of the Electoral College or to adopt a popular vote. in the state of Florida (one of the swing states) but receive 100 percent of A recent Pew 2018 poll showed 55 percent of respondents support a new Florida’s electoral vote-share, or 29 electoral votes. So, in this example, 10 popular vote system; while 41 percent favored the current electoral process. votes could be given more numeric weight than millions of Florida voters Dr. Belinda Aquino, professor Emeritus at UH Manoa and professor of who selected the losing candidate. Political Science, said she is in favor of changing to a popular vote system Mathematically, under this system, one vote does not equal to one vote. and abandoning the current electoral voting. (continue on S3) A vote in one state could be equal to two, three, or even four times the vote
SUPPLEMENT HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE S3
COVER STORY
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
(COVER STORY: OUTDATED....from S2)
She explains: “This system of pitting the Popular Vote against the Electoral Vote has long roots in American political history. When the Electoral College was established by law more than 200 years ago, the rationale was that the smaller states like Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and others should not be dominated by the bigger states like New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Texas, and so on. “So it was obvious that the Founding Fathers of the new American nation were motivated by the reasoning that the rural or smaller states had to be protected in terms of the principle of equality and fairness. “I am for abolishing the outdated Electoral College because it has outlived its usefulness as the main determining factor in choosing the President of the United States. It was established in the 18th century when the new republic just had a few hundreds of thousands of people. Now United States has a population of nearly 300 million. And because of reforms in the political system over the years, the need to adjust the Electoral College political machinery has to be either reformed substantively or abolished entirely because it is no longer congruent with dramatic changes that have occurred since the 19th century.” UH Professor Patricio Abinales agrees with switching to a popular vote system (candidate with most votes win). “The electoral college is a very, very outdated devise which the Founding Fathers inserted into the Constitution to prevent the ‘uneducated’ and ‘uncivilized’ but numerically large poor from voting in their equally rough and unschooled representatives. It was inherently elitist and based on the assumption then that America would be limited to the 13 colonies, would not expand, and then become an immigrant nation. All these are now archaic ideas.” Abinales’ assertion can be substantiated that the Founding Fathers’ intent was elitist in design and created to protect the country from direct democracy (or popular vote). In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton said that the point of the Electoral College was “that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite
“The electoral college is a very, very outdated devise which the Founding Fathers inserted into the Constitution to prevent the ‘uneducated’ and ‘uncivilized’ but numerically large poor from voting in their equally rough and unschooled representatives. It was inherently elitist and based on the assumption then that America would be limited to the 13 colonies, would not expand, and then become an immigrant nation. All these are now archaic ideas.”
— Professor Patricio Abinales, UH-Manoa
qualifications.” Registered voter Jay Flores of Waipahu said “it’s fair that the candidate with the most votes win and this would truly represent the will of the people. All votes should count. Serafin “Jun” Colmenares, Jr. a registered voter in Aiea, cites two examples -- when the current system failed and both Al Gore and Hilary Clinton lost the election but won the popular vote – as a reason why he favors a new popular vote system. “The present electoral system is out of date. The popular vote system will make each single vote count, thus making the election results more representative of the will of the people,” said Colmenares, Jr. Jo Farina of Ewa Beach is content with the current electoral system because she says “America is not a direct democracy, in the sense of a nation (continue on S4)
List of Filipino Candidates Running for Office
A
s the General Election is fast approaching, the Chronicle has compiled a list of Filipino candidates who won outright, having been unopposed in the upcoming General Election on November 6, 2018. In addition, a listing of Filipino candidates running for various positions are also presented herein. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
KERNS, Marissa Dipasupil REPUBLICAN
GENERAL
STATE SENATOR, DIST 4
INOUYE, Lorraine Rodero DEMOCRAT
WINNER
STATE SENATOR, DIST 17
CLEMENTE, Roger REPUBLICAN GENERAL
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 2
MANIPOL-LARSON, Grace REPUBLICAN
GENERAL
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 4
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Joy DEMOCRAT
WINNER
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 24
BELATTI, Della Au DEMOCRAT WINNER
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 30
CACHOLA, Romy M. DEMOCRAT GENERAL
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 30
VELASCO, Mar
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 38
AQUINO, Henry J.C. DEMOCRAT WINNER
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 39
CULLEN, Ty J.K.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 40
MARTINEZ, Rose DEMOCRAT GENERAL
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 41
CABANILLA ARAKAWA, Rida DEMOCRAT
GENERAL
MAUI COUNCILMEMBER
ATAY, Alika
GENERAL
REPUBLICAN GENERAL DEMOCRAT WINNER
NONPARTISAN SPECIAL
(WAILUKU-WAIHEE-WAIKAPU) KAUAI COUNCILMEMBER
DOCTOR SPARKS, Norma
NONPARTISAN SPECIAL
GENERAL
HONOLULU COUNCILMEMBER, DIST VIII
ELEFANTE, Brandon J.C.
NONPARTISAN SPECIAL
GENERAL
S4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
OPINION
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
Make A Difference-VOTE By Barbara Stanton Kim AARP State Director
O
n Nov. 6, you are the boss, with more power than the governor. You can hire or fire our leaders, but only if you vote. Too many people in Hawai‘i don’t vote. In fact, Hawaii is dead last in having the lowest voter turnout in the nation. That has to change. Critical issues that affect kupuna, caregivers and your financial security are at stake. In Hawaii, the next Legislature and Governor will decide on services for kupuna and caregivers, including funding and possible expansion of the Kupuna Caregiver program, which provides adult daycare and other services to family caregivers to keep them in the workforce. Nationally, your vote can help protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and reduce the high price of prescription drugs. It’s especially important for older Filipinos to vote. “We need to make sure the politicians know we vote,” said Toy Arre, a member of AARP Hawai‘i’s executive board. If the politicians think that you don’t vote, they are more likely to ignore your wishes. “People think, ‘I’m only one vote, what good does it do?’” Arre said. “But it does count. We’ve had races where people can get elected by one vote.” AARP has a proud history of providing voters with information on
where the candidates stand on issues. That’s why we sponsored a televised debate in August between the top two candidates for governor in the Democratic primary. Soon we’ll be putting out a Video Voters Guide so you can know where Governor David Ige and Republican challenger Representative Andria Tupola stand on issues important to older voters. Look for it on our Facebook page @AARPHawaii and on our blog aarp.org/hi. AARP does not endorse or oppose candidates. Nor do we campaign or donate to candidates or political campaigns. What we do is to inform you on the candidates’ positions on critical issues so that you can make an educated decision. But unless you vote, you’ve thrown away your power to direct your future. Our voter campaign this year is called “Be the Difference. Vote.” We’re asking you to learn about the issues and pledge to vote. We’ve set up a website at aarp.org/vote. There’s information on how you can vote and on issues that will affect your life and your family’s life. Please take our pledge to vote. Absentee walk-in voting starts on Oct. 23 in Hawaii. If you haven’t registered, you can still do so at absentee voting sites and at polling places on Election Day. Much is at stake. Be the boss. Be the difference. Vote.
(COVER STORY: OUTDATED....from S3)
ment. Finally, it would need to be approved by three-fourths of the states. The realistic alternative is a movement called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Reich explains: “All that’s needed in order to make the Electoral College irrelevant is for states with a total of at least 270 electors to agree to award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote. If they do that, then automatically the winner of the popular vote gets the 270 electoral college votes he or she needs to become president.” As of September 2018, 11 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote. Together these states total 172 electoral votes or 32 percent of the total Electoral College. “So all we need now is some additional states with electors to pass the same law, agreeing to reward all their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote – and it’s done. We’ll never again elect a president who loses the popular vote,” said Reich. Hawaii is among the 11 states. On May 1, 2008, both Houses of the Hawaii Legislature overrode Gov. Linda Lingle’s veto of the National Popular Vote bill and enacted the bill into law (SB 2898).
in which laws and other government decisions are not made largely by majority vote. “We are instead a representative democracy. In times of close presidential elections such as the one in 2000, thanks to the Electoral College, we did not have to recount the whole nation, just Florida. Another great service that the Electoral College provides is to remove incentives to rig elections. If the popular vote winner actually determined the presidency, the most passionate partisans would have reason to stuff the ballot boxes for their favored candidate, while illegally misreporting or suppressing votes they do not want to count. Thanks to the Electoral College, we do not have to count and recount millions of votes in all of America to determine the winner without the pain of waiting days, weeks, months.” Contrary to what some pro-Electoral College supporters claim -- each state determines when recounts are required in very close races that is independent of the electoral system. Investigations have debunked false rumors by the Trump administration that widespread cheating and ballot box stuffing occur. There also is no evidence to suggest that switching to a popular vote system would delay election results any more than the current system as technology would remain the same. Another Alternative: Proportionate Voting of Electors Another alternative besides the NPIVC is for states to adopt proportionMain Alternative: National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPIVC) ate voting like in Main and Nebraska. Under this system, designated electors Abolishing the Electoral College is an uphill, unrealistic battle that would cast their votes by proportionate percentage, not a winner-take-all system. require either a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress or a constitutional So if the top candidate gets 52 percent, that candidate will only receive 52 convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures just to propose an amend- percent of the designated electoral votes. Other candidates will also receive their electoral vote shares.
States Have the Power Reich cites: “Article II of the Constitution says states can award their electors any way they want. The states have the power to enact any one of the two alternatives to select the nation’s president should enough voters demand it. Proponents of change bring up that women and people of color were prohibited from voting during the time that the electoral college was formed which further highlights how outdated this system is in the modern world. Enough states just need to act within the next two years to make changes before the next presidential election. Electing pro-electoral reformers to state legislators this midterm election is another reason why voting is imperative this November.
SUPPLEMENT HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE S5
OPINION
Why Should Filipinos Vote For
The Republicans
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
Why Should Filipinos Vote For
The Democrats
By Atty. Emmanuel S. Tipon
“R
epublican women are more beautiful than Democratic women,” I told a beautiful woman who asked me why I am a Republican, at the 2012 Republican convention in Florida that nominated Mitt Romney for president. She gave me a buzz on the cheek. Look no farther than Melania Trump vs. Michelle Obama. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/AQPq8seS9CLaVAF88VmqeE4bzmZBoVbOSjqs-qjFKXK5x-OIBND7EFI/ Fuera de los buenos. Republicans have treated Filipinos better than the Democrats. After the Spanish American war, President William McKinley, a Republican, decided to take the Philippines instead of giving them back to Spain or to a third nation like China or Japan. If the Democrats who opposed McKinley had prevailed, Filipinos would now be eating with chopsticks. Susmariosep. Democrats double crossed Filipinos. When World War II broke out, Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on Filipinos to join (continue on page 10)
By Amy Agbayani
Democrat District 28, Kalihi Valley Co-chair, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights
T
he history and future of Filipinos in Hawai’i, the Democratic party and unions are closely connected. Together we have fought and will continue to fight for better schools, better jobs and respect. Unions and Filipinos have traditionally voted Democrat and will continue to vote for Democratic candidates in 2018 because Democrats support our aspirations for equal rights, access and full participation. The Filipino community has grown since the first 15 young plantation workers arrived in 1906. Before statehood in 1959, Filipino ILWU union members worked hard to win a Democratic party majority in the legislature. Our multi-ethnic community is proud to have elected Democrat Ben Cayetano as the first and only Filipino Governor in the history of the US. Filipinos are now the second largest ethnic group in the state and work in many sectors of the economy. We are the largest ethnic group and our (continue on page 10)
S6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
(continue on S6)
SUPPLEMENT HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE S7
OPEN FORUM
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
Be Informed Before Voting on the Constitutional Amendment By Darryl Macha
Honolulu Board of REALTORS® President
“W
ho wouldn’t want to increase funding to support public education?” That’s a question that’s being asked a lot lately as a result of the proposed Constitutional Amendment that will be on the General Election ballot in November. Voters will be asked to vote on this proposed amendment: “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge
ELECTION NEWS
Registration and Early Walk-In Voting Will Start Again on October 23
I
ndividuals who miss the October 9 deadline can still register and vote at an Early Walk in Voting site within their county from October 23 through November 3 and on Election Day at their assigned polling place. However, they may experience increased wait times at the polls as they will be required to complete a Registration Affidavit and confirm they are at the correct polling place. These extra steps ensure the integrity of the voter registration rolls and the election. The General Election is on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information on the 2018 Elections, visit elections.hawaii. gov or call (808) 453-VOTE (8683).
on investment real property to be used to support public education?” The answer isn’t that simple. Most people would agree that increased funding for our public schools is needed, but it’s how the legislature proposes to provide more dollars for education that’s concerning. The proposed amendment will have far-reaching and unintended consequences. Supporters of the amendment say the intent is to tax foreign investment proper-
ties, but the language is so general that the tax could apply to all types of real estate – residential, commercial properties, second homes, vacation rentals, hotels, apartments, and even agricultural lands. Higher property taxes only means a higher cost of living for everyone in Hawaii. Rents will increase, the cost of doing business will be greater, and the prices of food, services, and other necessities will only rise. As per the Hawaii State
Constitution, the duty to collect real property taxes is the responsibility of the counties. The amendment would allow the Legislature to levy additional taxes above what the counties already impose. Property owners would be taxed at both state and county levels. The counties use that revenue to provide essential services for residents including police, fire, and emergency services. REALTORS® support our teachers and keiki and believe they deserve
better. However, the way the amendment is worded there’s no guarantee more money will reach students and classrooms or help increase teachers’ pay. Before you vote on the proposed constitutional amendment, be sure to understand the impacts of the issue. We urge you to reach out to your family, friends, and colleagues to also get informed before voting. You can find more information online at affordablehawaii. net.
S8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
SUPPLEMENT HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE S9
S10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
AS I SEE IT
By Elpidio R. Estioko
I
t is this time of the year that all citizens need to answer the nation’s call to exercise our voting rights by registering, going out, and voting this coming November 6, 2018 general and primary elections. The fate of our elected officials running our government depend on us, so let’s be part of the solution, not the problem. Let’s exercise our inalienable right to vote, so we can help chart the destiny of our country. Let our votes be heard/ counted! Voting is an essential part of our democratic process and by voting we choose the representatives who will represent us and make decisions that affect us, our family and
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
November Elections: Let’s Break the Voter’s Apathy, Go Out and Vote! our community. If we care about the future of Hawai‘i, let’s register and vote! In the past, here in Hawaii, voter turnouts were great! Lately, however, there seem to be voter’s apathy, according to Jun Gappe, president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawaii (UPAA – Hawaii). His point seems to be credible because this was corroborated by voter statistics from the State of Hawaii Office of Elections. In the 60’s, 70’s, and the 80’s, statistics show that voter turnouts were great at a fluctuating average of 85% to 92%. Towards the 19th and the 20th centuries however, voters’ participation declined to a low of 52% in 2014 (of the 706,890 registered voters, only 359,642 voted) and 58% in 2016 (of the 749,917 registered voters, 437,664 voted). Hawaii is considered to be one of the lowest voter
turnout ratings in the country. It was observed that one reason voter participation rates are on the decline is because of the relative lack of options. The repeated victories of the Democratic Party at the polls on the state level, according to many, has left some feeling of unsatisfied citizens thus making Hawaii a one party system. On the national level, it was likewise observed that the low turnout in presidential elections was perhaps due to Hawaii’s limited representation in the Electoral College (Hawaii has only four votes) and the vast time difference between Washington D.C. and Hawaii. The remedy to the first cause I think, is that the Republican Party needs to recruit credible and influential candidates to run against the Democrats. This way, they can become competitive and have better chances of winning and thereby dominating the political landscape
long held by Democrats. As to the electoral representation, I think this is based on population, so what the Hawaii government needs to do is to review the actual population numbers and see if it increased/grew so they can proportionately increase the number of electoral votes. Probably, the headcount or the latest statistics became obsolete now considering that many moved to the island during the previous years and have second and third generations along the way. Population must have already increased by now. Politically, the decline is alarming so it needs to be addressed. There must be a way to encourage our fellow citizens of Hawaii to go out and vote. So, volunteers and coders with Common Cause Hawaii have created the Hawaii Power Ballot, a collection of candidates running in Federal, State and County
elections, to be able to guide our voters, according to HawaiiNewsNow. “Because Hawaii doesn’t have a Voter Guide, and with so many candidates and issues to educate ourselves on, our team saw the need for an innovative way to share information with voters,” Executive Director of Common Cause Hawaii Corie Tanida said. The site allows voters to find links to candidates’ websites, social media pages and candidate questionnaires. After logging in your zip code, you will be directed to the candidates’ profile and information who are running in your area. “This is an example of bringing technology and innovation together, to empower voters by putting information in the palm of their hands,” Tanida added. It was first created in 2014 and is accessible at the above link on any smartphone, tablet or (continue on S11)
(OPINION: WHY SHOULD FILIPINOS VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICANS....from S5)
(OPINION: WHY SHOULD FILIPINOS VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS....from S5)
the war, promising them American citizenship and full veterans benefits. But after the war, a Democrat controlled Congress broke the promise, leaving more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers who survived with an empty bag. Que lastima. The Rescission Act of 1946 signed by President Harry Truman, a Democrat, provided that service by Filipinos in the U.S. military should not be deemed to have been in active military, naval, or air service for the purpose of any law conferring rights, privileges, and benefits by reason of such service. Despreciable. It was a Republican-controlled Congress that granted U.S. citizenship to Filipino WW II veterans. I drafted the bill for my friend Republican Congressman Tom Campbell of California, who sponsored it. Muchos gracias. President Ronald Reagan, a compassionate Republican, whom I met while campaigning in California, granted amnesty to more than three million illegal aliens. Compasivo. The Obama administration went to the Supreme Court to prevent Filipino immigrant children who turn 21 while their visa petition is pending from using the priority date of their parents. The Court of Appeals had sided with the children. Thus, their parents would have to file new petitions for them with a new priority date. Desalmado.
state’s hotel and hospitality industry is a major part of the economy. Today, we have Filipino leaders of unions endorsing Democrats: Gemma Weinstein of Unite Here Local 5, Donna Domingo of ILWU, Peter Ganaban of Local 388, Edmund Aczon of the Carpenter’s union. Currently all our Filipino elected officials in the Senate and House are Democrats. Many hold powerful leadership positions: Ways and Means chair Senator Donovan dela Cruz and vice chair Senator Gil Keith-Agaran, majority leader Della Au Belatti, vice chair of Finance Representatie Ty Cullen. Our Democratic Congressional delegation Senators Brian Schatz, Mazie Hirono, Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard fought for recognition of our Veterans, a Congressional Gold Medal for our WWII Filipino Veterans, and they continue fighting Republican President Trump’s attack on affordable care and immigrants. The Republican agenda hurts Filipino immigrants and their families. Filipinos should continue to vote for the most qualified candidates and the party that has proven its support for the Filipino community. I respectfully urge Filipinos to vote for Democratic Party candidates: Mazie Hirono for US senate, Ed Case and Tulsi Gabbard for Congress, David Ige for Governor, Josh Green for Lt Governor. These Democrats will protect and expand jobs, worker’s rights, immigrant families, education, and equal opportunity.
REPUBLICAN VALUES ARE FILIPINO VALUES Republicans favor life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Republicans are religious, hardworking, self-reliant, and thrifty. Many Democrats enjoy welfare benefits at the expense of honest Republican taxpayers. Republicans are conservative and want fewer taxes. Democrats are tax and spend liberals. Republicans do not want acid and abortion. Many Democrats love illegal drugs and abortion. Republicans want a strong military to protect America. “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans,” writes Ann Coulter. If Filipinos had any brains, they’d be Republicans.
SUPPLEMENT HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE S11
AS I SEE IT
GENERAL ELECTION 2018
(AS I SEE IT: NOVEMBER....from S10)
computer. Recently, the Legislature also has taken steps to put in place strategies aimed at boosting voter participation and encouraging qualified citizens to register and vote. For instance, voters can now register online. They have also expanded early mail and walk-in voting to the extent that as much as 30% of the total vote is already decided well before Election Day. On November 6, Hawaii voters will pick a number of top state and federal officials as well as choose two new county mayors and many council members throughout the state. Also during the general elections in November, voters will be asked whether Hawaii should hold a constitutional convention — a formal meeting to decide what, if any, changes should be proposed to the state constitution. In addition, voters also are being asked if certain properties in the state should be taxed and the money directed toward paying for public education. For this 2018 races, Gov. David Ige, a Democrat, will
face Republican state Rep. Andria Tupola. Gov. Ige’s lieutenant governor running mate is state Sen. Josh Green while Rep. Tupola’s running mate is Marissa Kerns, a Philippine-born Waianae business owner. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat and a member of the Judiciary committee handling the confirmation proceedings of Judge Brett Kabanaugh as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court, is seeking a second term and she will be competing against Republican Ronald Curtis, a retired systems engineer. For the 1st Congressional District covering greater Honolulu, former Congressman Ed Case, a Democrat, will face former Republican state legislator Cam Cavasso. In the 2nd Congressional District covering rural Oahu and the neighbor islands, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is up against Republican Brian Evans, a writer and singer from Maui. In the Legislature, 19 of the 51 House seats are on the general election ballot along with eight of the 25 state Senate seats. Races for county
mayors and councils which are nonpartisan have Derek Kawakami and Mel Rapozo opposing each other for the mayor of Kauai, while Mike Victorino and Elle Cochran are running for Maui mayor. Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are also nonpartisan, and they are also statewide races. Candidates for the three at-large seats in the 2018 OHA field are incumbents Rowena Akana, Lei Ahu Isa and John Waihee IV, who face challengers Brendon Lee, former state Rep. Faye Hanohano and state official William Aila Jr. For the open Oahu trustee seat, former federal official Esther Kiaaina faces Kalei Akaka, granddaughter of the late U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka. Considering their numbers, Hawai‘i politics should have been different if the population of Filipino ancestry were to register and vote their full numerical strength. While we have successful Fil-Ams elected officials past and present (such as former Hawai‘i Governor Ben Cayetano, current state senator Gil S.C. Keith-Agaran and
current Maui County councilmen Alika Atay and Don S. Guzman), the number of Filipinos who serve in elected offices are still relatively few compared to the actual FilAm population. The Filipino population grew from 21,108 in 2009 to 28,450 in 2015, and has almost certainly continued its upward trend. It would even be bigger if their other affiliations are counted (lots of voters identify themselves as affiliated with two or more ethnic groups) which will increase the total number of Filipino voter base. According to 2015 figures, Filipinos are followed by Maui residents of Hispanic or Latino origin at 18,488; Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders at 15,545 and Japanese at 11,575. The 2018 election will certainly validate whether the Filipinos can become a power bloc in Hawaiian politics. The Maui mayor’s race is expected to be a very competitive race, with FilAm Don S. Guzman, presently a county council member representing Kahului, a 48 year old
Kahului attorney, lists many Filipino organizations in his campaign biography including past state president of the United Filipino Council of Hawai’i; co-chair of the Filipino Community Task Force of Bini At Ani; and former legal counsel for the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce. He also chaired the 2006 Maui Filipino Centennial Celebration Coordinating Council. Based on records of the State of Hawaii Office of Elections, the areas with heavy concentration of Filipino voters include the island of Lāna‘i, where nearly all of the permanent population is of Filipino ancestry; and Central Maui especially Kahului, North Kīhei, and portions of Lahaina. Let’s rally behind our candidates! Go out and vote on November 6! The only way we can make the Filipino vote a voting bloc is by registering and voting on Election Day! Lets’ go out and vote! (For feedback and other comments, please send them to the author’s email address: estiokoelpidio@gmail.com).
S12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLESUPPLEMENT
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GENERAL ELECTION 2018