The Hooser Blog

Do Ask, Do Tell: Blowing off the closet doors

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:58:22 GMT

Kudos to Hawaii’s U.S. Senators Inouye and Akaka, for coming out in strong support of ending the untenable ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy targeting gay and lesbian military service members.

“I believe the time has come to allow gay men and women to serve openly in the military…In every war we have had men and women of different sexual orientation who have stood in harm’s way and given their lives for their country. I fought alongside gay men during World War II, many of them were killed in combat. Are we to suggest that because of their sexual orientation they are not heroes?” U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye

“This repeal [of don’t ask, don’t tell] will bring us another step towards equality in the United States.” U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka

Hawaii’s two U.S. Senators are now out. Our governor is out on this issue. Our two members of the U.S Congress are also out. And a strong majority of the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives came out in support during this past year - some enthusiastically and others dragged kicking and screaming. But they too have been outed, nonetheless.

As evidenced by the legislature’s near-super majority vote earlier this year on the civil unions bill, HB444, and the subsequent results of the recent general election, it is abundantly clear that a clear majority of people in Hawaii support the equal treatment of gays and lesbians. The religious right pulled out all the stops, put forth their most righteous candidates, attacked vehemently and directly from the pulpit, and yet lost decisively at the polls.

It should be easy to come out for equality, for tolerance and for the celebration and acknowledgement of diversity. But clearly for many it is not. While a majority of people may profess to support equality, the establishment of civil unions, and ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ many remain reluctant to advocate so publicly.

A minority of our population has until now, succeeded in making the majority feel like they are actually the fringe. While those who support equality clearly represent mainstream opinion, a vocal and aggressive minority has somehow kept many people cowed into believing their support of gay and lesbian rights was best kept in the shadows, spoken about only in hushed tones among like-minded friends and close associates.

The time for hushed tones and timid support is past. It is time for those willing to speak privately in support, to step out NOW publicly, proudly and enthusiastically in support of equality issues at all levels.

Contact family and friends NOW, both here and on the mainland, and speak out in support of ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” and of extending equal rights to gay couples everywhere.

Bring up the subject the next time you sit down with friends for a few beers and an evening of “Texas hold’em.”

Stand up, and speak out for what you believe in.

Talk to your children and to their teachers. Let them know that bullying and put downs are not acceptable, that being gay is ok and just a normal fact of life for many people.

Next time you attend church or Bible study, wear your “Equality Now!” sticker. Ask your fellow parishioners, “What would Jesus do?”

The tide of support will only grow as each of us encourages others through our own actions. The more of us that come out, the more of us who speak out against bigotry and intolerance, the more empowered others will be to come out too.

Ask anyone who has done so, and they will tell you that the first step is the most difficult. However, they will also tell you of a tremendous euphoric feeling of freedom and empowerment, once you have taken the fundamental step of being true to who you are and what you believe in.

Come out, step out and speak out for equality – NOW.

Gary Hooser - truth-teller without portfolio
Do Ask, Do Tell: Blowing off the closet doors - First published at The Hawaii Independent http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/
For more information on former Hawaii State Senator and Majority Leader Gary Hooser, visit website in transition http://www.garyhooser.com
This blog is also moving to http://www.garyhooser.wordpress.com

A New Day In Hawaii – Expectations, Possibilities And Reality

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 03:44:26 GMT

What can the public really expect from the Abercrombie administration during the upcoming 2011 legislative session?

To claim success, the new administration must achieve tangible “trumpet-able” results during the upcoming 60-day legislative session, while simultaneously laying a solid foundation for the future. It absolutely has to be both – the public will not be satisfied with non-specific, complex and esoteric accomplishments that simply lay the groundwork for the future.

No, the public and the media want to see and touch and feel the change, and they want that change now.

Governor-elect Abercrombie has only weeks to assemble a cabinet; there is a huge learning curve at many levels; there is the unavoidable and practical reality of being required to adopt the Lingle administration’s budget assumptions. Add to these factors the expectations of our 76 Senators and Representatives, all of whom have their own ideas, goals and aspirations which must be taken into account, and a complex picture emerges.

Taken as a whole, it’s a formidable challenge.

Given the extraordinary campaign momentum, the pent-up energy, high expectations, and the still untapped and chafing-at-the-bit talent of the Abercrombie team, you can be sure there will be a tremendous effort to light the world on fire during this important first year.

Job # 1 will be balancing the budget without raising taxes, without additional furloughs, and without further reduction in services. And while it is a given the process will involve significant drama and much gnashing of teeth, at the end of the day we also know that the budget will be balanced on these terms.

Though every issue seems to demand simultaneous and immediate attention, four stand out as being the most pressing – education, energy, agriculture/sustainability, and the economy. And of course, there is that little matter of civil unions.

I suspect that civil unions will be taken up early in the upcoming session so that it will not hang again like the Sword of Damocles, over the entire legislative session.

The focus for education will doubtless revolve around finances, including the ever-present issue of charter schools and funding equity.

The legislature will assuredly pass “enabling legislation” to support the voter-approved constitutional amendment calling for an appointed school board. The issue here will boil down to a question of power: Should the governor have full license to appoint whomever he wants, or should this power be attenuated by a separate “candidate evaluation and selection process” in addition to Senate approval through that body’s ‘advice and consent’ responsibilities?

The safest and surest course for the 2011 energy agenda would appear to be an acceleration of the existing Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. Significant and very promising new “game changing” proposals floated by the incoming administration have yet to be vetted by the legislature, so it remains to be seen whether these new initiatives become bogged down in legislative committees and die of their own weight, or succeed and launch us even further down the path toward energy independence.

Most likely, strengthening the economy will initially involve accelerating CIP funding, awarding of contracts, and completion of numerous backlogged infrastructure projects. The challenge here will be speeding up an often-times cumbersome process while maintaining the integrity of open bidding. The upcoming APEC (“Asia-Pacific Economic Conference”) meeting in November 2011, as well as a renewed and sustained effort aimed at maximizing the effective use of dwindling federal funds – particularly in the areas of health care and human services – are two additional opportunities sure to get a lot of attention.

Perhaps the most important accomplishment the new administration can achieve is to give form, substance and meaning to sustainability, a concept that resonates deeply with so many of our citizens.

Achieving tangible, measurable progress toward food self-sufficiency is absolutely crucial, so much so that it has the potential to become the Abercrombie administration’s most important and lasting legacy, one that exceeds all others. Achieving meaningful progress toward both food and energy self-sufficiency would truly pave the way to a bright and hopeful new day in Hawaii.

As fresh initiatives and new personalities are introduced and begin to mix and mingle, it will be most interesting to see the dynamics evolve. Sadly, the Lingle administration will be long remembered for not just the Furlough Friday debacle – but also the constant bickering and discord that seemed to permeate every one of the past eight legislative sessions.

It will be a refreshing change to watch an experienced Democratic Governor working with an experienced Democratic House and Senate – with everyone knowing that the public is watching and expecting far more and far better.

Gary Hooser

http://www.garyhooser.com truth-teller without portfolio

Copyright by Gary Hooser 2010 – Permission to reprint in full is granted. First published in The Hawaii Independent November 19, 2010

Note: Please adjust your bookmarks accordingly, I am transitioning this blog to http://www.garyhooser.wordpress.com

Democrat or Republican Does It Really Matter?

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:51:57 GMT

Why should anyone care who gets elected and who doesn’t on November 2?

Peter Townsend of The Who sings “We won’t be fooled again” and then closes with “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”.

Does it really matter whether it is Abercrombie or Aiona? Will life change if it’s Djou instead of Hanabusa?

The answer is yes, it does matter. You see, politics is a team sport.

Duke Aiona and Charles Djou are on the Republican Team; the team of Carl Rove, George Bush, Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin.

Neil Abercrombie and Colleen Hanabusa are on the Democratic Team; the team of Barack Obama, Daniel Inouye, Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich.

Each team has values that are fundamentally different from the other. Because agendas, budgets and policy are all driven by the principle of “majority rules”, each team essentially “sticks together” and fights against the opposition to retain the “majority position”. This allows the team that holds the “majority position” to achieve results that support their core values. While imperfect I suppose, in theory this is how the system works.

While some in the public might believe there is not much difference between the two teams, a reasonably close look says otherwise.

Republicans believe “it’s every man for himself” while Democrats believe, “we are all in this together”. Republicans believe the “free market” is sacrosanct while Democrats feel compelled to protect against the abuse of the monopoly. Republicans believe that if you earned it you should keep it - all of it. Democrats believe that those that earn more should give more.

Depending on your perspective and degree of jaded cynicism – it often seems that both teams are driven more by money than by their core values. Both teams are essentially elected into office by money and then do their best while in office to “bring the money home” to their district and/or to their particular special interest (defense, education, environment, business etc). And yes, when it comes to “bringing home the money” sometimes it is difficult to tell the teams apart.

So if it is mostly “all about the money” what difference does it really make?

Because obviously - you want to make sure your team’s special interest gets the money.

If the Democrats win, the money is much more likely to go into health care, education and the environment. If the Democrats win, the tax structure is more likely to be “graduated” where those at the top of the food chain pay a higher percentage of their income than those in the middle and the bottom.

If the Republicans win, they will continue in their ongoing attempt to, as they like to put it “starve the beast”. In their zeal to limit the size of government, a classic Republican strategy is to steadily reduce program funding and then watch as vital public services and protections shrivel on the vine. Republicans in general favor reducing the percentage of income taxes paid by the very rich and large corporations, forcing the middle and lower income levels to carry a larger burden of the cost of core public services.

So yes, it matters which team gets elected. It matters on issues also of basic social policy. Democrats believe strongly in the separation of Church and State while celebrating diversity and honoring the civil rights of all. Republicans too often mock and disregard the value of diversity and are increasingly influenced by the theocratic path of the conservative Christian right. Republicans lean toward a “lock’em up and throw away the key” mentality, viewing the court system as an impediment to justice. Democrats understand the importance of an independent judiciary and the right of individuals to fair and equal treatment, whatever their social status, their religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Because these ideals are worth fighting for, you want control over the money and you want control over policy. This is why it is so important for the Democrats’ team to win.

It’s really that simple.

Gary Hooser
Watch The Hooser Story at http://www.garyhooser.com
Note: The Gary Hooser Blog is transitioning to a new location - http://www.garyhooser.wordpress.com

Relating To The Regulation Of The Poor and Unwashed:

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:33:59 GMT

Relating To The Regulation Of The Poor and Unwashed:

The actual title of this newly proposed city ordinance is “Relating To The Regulation of Sidewalks - http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-104820/5df-47bx.pdf But the intent is clearly: How do we pass a law that keeps poor homeless people from getting in our way?

What the Regulation of Sidewalks law is really saying to the poor and homeless is simply “Get out of my way or I will call a cop who will fine you $50 unless of course you can prove you are mentally ill in which case you are exempt”.

How Catch-22 bizarre is that? We fine some hapless poor homeless person $50 for blocking a sidewalk and then exempt them if they can prove mental illness.

While perhaps well intended, this proposal is as ludicrous, mean-spirited and Orwellian as the “ban the shopping carts in the parks” law that precedes it.

How far will we go to insure that we don’t have to even look at the homeless in our community who exist in a world most of us can not even imagine?

We have already proven our willingness to take away their shopping carts and everything they own in the entire world, to make sure they stay out of our parks. Now we want to make sure they stay out of our doorways and sidewalks. What’s next, another ordinance for alleyways, shopping centers, and parking lots?

Why don’t we just draft an ordinance that bans poor people from being within 20 feet of a non-poor person? We can call it the Get Out Of My Way or better yet the GOOMFW ordinance. That should do it. As we non-poor people move about the city, then the lowest of the low can just GOOMFW when we approach. Like the parting of the Red Sea, this new ordinance would insure that the genteel among us can stroll unimpeded through-out the city without having to step around some lump of unwashed humanity crouched under cardboard in a doorway or on the side walk.

We can do better than this. This is Hawaii, land of aloha. Remember?

Before we go any further down the path of banning the poor and the homeless from our parks and our sidewalks, we need to make sure they have someplace to go – someplace legal, safe and preferably dry.

We need "Housing First". We need safe zones where the homeless can safely congregate. We need increased mental health services, job training and more, much more affordable housing. And most of all, we need to remember that the homeless are part of our extended ohana and an incontrovertible reflection of who we are as a community.

Gary Hooser
Hawaii State Senator (2002 to 2010)
http://www.garyhooser.com
http://garyhooser.wordpress.com

On Duke Aiona, The Far Right and the First Congressional District

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:32:16 GMT

Recent poll numbers published by the DailyKos show the Abercrombie/Aiona race in a virtual dead heat. http://www.dailykos.com/polling/2010/10/2/HI-1/11/5ZR4S

How is it possible that a guy like Duke Aiona can even be considered a credible Gubernatorial candidate?

He has absolutely no meaningful experience in government or the private sector.

As lieutenant governor he has totally squandered the past 8 years - accomplishing nothing of any significance whatsoever. Zilch. Kaimu. Nada. Zero. Walang anuman. ‘Ole.

His main claim to fame is being appointed to a judgeship which he then quit, claiming the pay was too low.

Plus, Duke Aiona is a right wing religious zealot. He believes that everyone who does not agree with his particular theology is going to hell. At the present count that would be over 5 billion of us.

Which is why of course that Duke and his friends would like to save us.

You see, Duke is the “righteous one”. Duke has been chosen by God to save Hawaii from burning in hell. Visit the churches hosting the Duke signs out front and they will tell you this. They will tell you that God has sent them a sign, and that Duke has been chosen by God to lead us all down the path to righteousness.

So how can it be possible that 48% of Hawaii residents are ready to elect him as Hawaii’s next Governor? Are people so shallow, so busy and so uninformed that they will vote for him just because he’s young, he’s Hawaiian and he’s pretty? Is it the religious dogma and tea party frenzy of the "new right" that drive his numbers? Has our democracy become so broken and so driven by money, marketing and media that substance matters not at all?

It is on days like this that I wonder. I wonder about the wisdom of our forefathers. I wonder if perhaps our system is broken and in need of radical perhaps revolutionary change. I wonder why more people are not as outraged as I but rather seem content to muck about their lives, accepting and believing that none of this matters anyway.

But then I come to my senses and with some relief realize that this poll does not include the neighbor islands nor rural Oahu, and is only of residents of the First Congressional District – This is the same district that gives us other right wing conservatives like State Senator Sam Slom, Representative Gene Ward…and the same district that has elected and re-elected Congressman Neil Abercrombie for the past 20 years. Go figure.

Gary Hooser http://www.garyhooser.com
Former Hawaii State Senator
First published in The Hawaii Independent http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/

Hooser on BLNR Appointment and Electing Neil Abercrombie

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:43:11 GMT

Hooser on BLNR Appointment and Electing Neil Abercrombie

In response to those promoting on blogs and in letters to the editor my potential appointment as the next Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, I would say mahalo and I greatly appreciate your confidence in my ability. However, our entire focus and energy must first and foremost be on electing Neil Abercrombie to be Hawaii’s next Governor.

Neil Abercrombie must be elected Governor of the State of Hawaii on November 2 and all effort must be directed at this objective. Our State’s pristine streams, valleys and watersheds, our fragile historical/cultural resources, and our delicate coastal environments deserve leadership that understands the value of putting preservation of the resource first.

The past 8 years of the Lingle administration have resulted in our State being locked in a downward spiral of mediocrity. Neal Abercrombie has the vision and the experience that Hawaii needs now more than ever to help turn our State around. With his leadership and experience combined with that of Brian Schatz as Lieutenant Governor working together with a united Democratic legislature – truly great things are possible. With new leadership committed to working together, Hawaii can move forward as a model of excellence in many areas including setting the standard of good planning, environmental protection and the proper and balanced management of our natural resources.

Please join with me in helping to elect Neil Abercrombie as Hawaii’s next Governor. Whether Gary Hooser or anyone else serves in any particular position or not is inconsequential within the larger context. I am willing and open to serving wherever our Governor may need me, but for now he needs me and everyone else working very hard to make sure his election is successful.

Gary Hooser
Former Hawaii State Senator
http://www.garyhooser.com

Post Election: Analysis, Reflection, Mahalo

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:35:10 GMT

Dear Friends and Supporters:

So, why didn't we win? Most would say that it was "all about the money". The winner Brian Schatz raised and spent nearly twice the amount we did. The other two major contenders likewise raised and spent significantly more than we were able to. Our fundraising, while theoretically sufficient to be competitive, was too little and too late.

This is not to denigrate or take away from the successful campaign of Brian Schatz. After all, his ability to raise and manage the funds needed is itself a reflection of his talents and competence. Brian Schatz will make a fine Lieutenant Governor and I will be supporting him enthusiastically in that quest. The primary focus for each of us now should be the election of Neil Abercrombie and Brian Schatz as Hawaii's next Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

My biggest regret is disappointing so many people who have given so much in support of my candidacy. To each I offer my sincerest thanks. Your faith in me is humbling and I am truly honored. I will honor the trust you placed in me regardless of whatever new path that I must soon choose.

One door closes and another opens. I am not sure where my steps will lead in the weeks ahead but my plan is to remain involved in public policy and advocacy work on a statewide basis. I remain committed to serving the public good. That could be meaningful work with a nonprofit, a government agency or a private sector organization that is driven by a mission that addresses the many needs and challenges facing our State. I welcome your inquiries and ideas and will be happy to meet for exploratory discussions.

This week my focus is on closing down the campaign. And yes, we need to raise money to pay the final campaign expenses. Contributions may be made online atwww.garyhooser.com or by mailing a check to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094 Honolulu Hawaii 96812. Your help prior to October 1 is especially needed and appreciated.

In addition, if you see a Hooser yard sign or banner in your neighborhood, please grab it and either find a way to recycle... or I hear they are an excellent fuel source for the H-Power plant.

Again, from the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you for any and all help and support you have given.

Sincerely,
Gary L. Hooser
Former Hawaii State Senator, Majority Leader
Former Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Now Seeking A New Path
http://www.garyhooser.com

Why I am choosing Hooser over Sakamoto (letter from Hooser supporter to a friend)

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:47:45 GMT

Aloha Gene.

It was nice to run into you yesterday. You’re right – this is a fascinating election year, though they’re all fascinating in their own ways, aren’t they?

Like I said I’d do, I’m laying out my Sakamoto vs. Hooser thoughts here, to share with you. (Funny you’d ask me for that. Mary asked me the same thing a couple of weeks ago, though for her it was Hooser vs. Schatz – if you want to take a look at that, follow this link: http://garyhooser.livejournal.com/41631.html

Anyway, here are some of the reasons I’m choosing Gary Hooser over Norman Sakamoto in the primary race for Lieutenant Governor:

Both of them are really nice guys, you know. I’ve spent quite a bit of time around them, and I believe they’re both honest, upstanding people. Their philosophies are really different, though, and that’s important.

First, there’s the obvious issue of the ways they approach civil rights issues. If you followed the ‘civil unions’ bill at the legislature the last couple of years, you already know that Senator Sakamoto voted against that bill every step of the way, and Gary Hooser’s support for it never wavered. I'm sure Norman was relieved when the Governor vetoed the bill.

In addition, right wing religious fanatic Gary Okino has labeled Sakamoto as one of the “righteous ones” because he opposes GLBT equality and he opposes the right for women to make their own reproductive choices. Gary of course supports a woman’s right to choose and was a key leader in passing HB444 in the Senate.

Their respective endorsements tell quite a story too:

Even though Sakamoto has Chaired the Senate’s Education Committee for years, it was Hooser that got the Hawaii State Teachers’ Association endorsement. But that was a no-brainer for anyone that was paying attention. Just imagine how disappointed the teachers must have felt when the school furloughs began and Sakamoto – the Senate’s Education chair, mind you – just kept hanging back, waiting for somebody else to come up with a solution. Guess who's solution was adopted? Yep, Gary Hooser’s. And when offered the opportunity to sign on, Sakamoto declined, preferring to wait rather than challenge the powers that be. It’s no wonder HSTA put their support behind Hooser, the same way Gary put his support behind education and the children when it really mattered.

While Sakamoto is a nice man, works very hard and has done the best he can - after serving 10 years as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I don’t believe our schools have gotten much better or have really changed much at all.

Sakamoto’s been endorsed by contractor’s unions and building associations. That’s perfectly reasonable, since his background is in contracting. They’re well-earned endorsements for him, and ones that he’s rightly honored to receive. I find it telling, on the other hand, that Sakamoto’s one of the rare Democrats ever to have been endorsed by the very conservative Hawaii Right to Life group. I’m sure he’s proud of that, but opposing civil rights and a woman’s right to choose just doesn’t sit well with me.

Gary’s endorsements cover the gamut. That says a lot about the broad spectrum of support he’s given and received over the years – the hotel and hospital workers’ union (Local 5), Hawaii Nurses Association, the Progressive Democrats, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party, and the Hawaii Chiropractic Association all support Gary, along with the Hawaii State Teachers Association, like I already mentioned.

Did you know that Gary authored the nation’s first solar mandate law? For that reason, among many others, he’s been endorsed by the Hawaii Sierra Club too.

Like I said, Gary’s run for Lt. Governor has been supported by a broad range of groups – not just unions – and to me, that shows how broadly he has supported all of us over the years.

Finally, there’s the fact that Gary’s from Kauai, and for years has been bringing his Neighbor Island perspective to us in Honolulu . You and I both know how often the Neighbor Islands are overlooked. I don’t think that’s intentional on anyone’s part; I just think that since most people in Hawaii live here on O’ahu, they mostly just think of O’ahu when it comes to making decisions on behalf of Hawaii ’s people. But in the long run, the whole state suffers.

And it’s a fact – no matter who becomes our next Governor, it’s going to be somebody from Honolulu . I think we need neighbor island balance that’s been lacking for a long time.

So for a lot of reasons, I believe, heart and soul, that we need Gary Hooser to be our next Lieutenant Governor!

Best wishes, Gene, and don’t forget to vote this coming Saturday. Call me up if you need a ride to the polls, okay?

Fondly,
Shelly

Gary L. Hooser
Candidate for Hawaii Lieutenant Governor
http://www.garyhooser.com

Our pathway to success: Your help TODAY will make it happen

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:23:10 GMT

Aloha,

It is critical that I let you know why we remain confident of our campaign’s “pathway to success” and victory on September 18th despite early polls that did not show me as the front-runner.

Our base tells us that we can and will:

1) Win solidly on the neighbor-islands.
I am the only major candidate from the neighbor-islands and have a solid base on Kauai. Recent polls indicate that I am the strongest neighbor-island candidate.

2) Win solidly the core active liberal/progressive Democratic vote statewide. My track record and endorsement by Progressive Democrats of Hawaii and Americans for Democratic Action support this expectation

3) Win solidly the green, sustainability and energy independence vote statewide. My endorsement by the Sierra Club, personal support by statewide environmental/energy advocates and legislative record support this outcome.

4) Win solidly the GLBT vote statewide.
The endorsement by various GLBT groups and my acknowledged leadership in openly advocating equality for all support this outcome

5) Win a strong majority of votes from teachers and their families statewide.
The endorsement of the Hawaii State Teachers Association supports this outcome. Teachers are actively phone banking and sign-holding in support of our campaign.

6) Do well on Oahu in the general population with the votes of the remaining Oahu Democratic candidates effectively splitting up the Oahu vote.
The endorsement of Local 5 hotel workers, the Hawaii Nurses Association and others will strongly contribute to this outcome

7) Raise and spend the funds needed to get the message out strongly.
We have raised and spent approximately $300,000 on the campaign to date. We are being supported by over 1,000 individual contributors, dwarfing that of all other LG candidates and clearly showing strong grass-roots support.

We are only 30 contributors short of reaching the $50,000 minimum threshold to begin obtaining State matching funds up to $85,000. Three strong television advertisements have been produced and have begun airing statewide.

This is our pathway to success. But we still need to find 30 people to contribute $100 to our campaign today in order to meet the critical minimum thresh-hold needed to make this happen.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono won her “crowded primary” four years ago with less than 21% of the vote. Recent polls show approximately 50% of voters are either undecided or uninformed about the candidates.

We can win but we need your help today. Please join us and be one of the 30 people we need to contribute $100 online today or tell a friend why they should support Hooser for Lieutenant Governor.

Sincerely, gh
Gary Hooser
http://www.garyhooser.com

Contributions may be made online at http://www.garyhooser.com or for those who prefer to send checks, they can be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu HI 96812.

LG Campaign - The next 12 hours are critical

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:13:49 GMT

Aloha Friends,

Asking for help has never been easy for me. Many of you have already offered generous support and I thank you for that, and regret that I must ask you again.

The next 12 hours of the campaign are critical if we are be successful and win on September 18. As Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor, I will be a strong advocate and leader for progressive values and a green sustainable future.

Today September 1 is a key deadline for the campaign and we are still short approximately 40 to 50 people contributing $100 per person in order to meet the all important threshold amount and receive matching funds from the State.

Smaller amounts are welcome, add up, and will be matched also but our target need is a $100 contribution. When we accomplish this, the State will provide our campaign with $50,000 in matching funds. When this happens we can make our last, final and critically important advertising push.

For the next 12 hours our urgent need is $100 or less amounts from individuals who have not yet given in 2010 (each spouse may contribute separately, joint checking accounts are acceptable but checks must be written and signed separately).

Contributions may be made securely via credit card online at http://www.garyhooser.com or mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu Hawaii 96812. Checks must be mailed today if the funds are to help meet this critical goal. If you choose regular mail, please send us an email notification of its mailing so we can register the contribution.

We must accomplish this fund-raising goal within 12 hours or no later than midnight tonight September 1 if we are to be able to fund our television advertising, get our message out strong and win on September 18th.

We can change Hawaii's future for the better, but we must push very hard now to do so.

Everything else is in place to win, but must reach this fund-raising goal to do so.

Mahalo for your help and support and for helping us make this final push. Imua! gh

Gary Hooser
Former Hawaii State Senator
Candidate Lieutenant Governor
http://www.garyhooser.com

Why I'm Choosing Hooser over Schatz

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:58:05 GMT

Why I'm Choosing Hooser over Schatz
(actual letter from a Hooser supporter
to an undecided 'leaning Schatz' supporter)

Dear Mary,

For people who vote more toward the progressive end of the scale, this year's race for Lieutenant Governor might present a quandary. On the surface, there are two equally viable candidates whose positions are generally similar - Gary Hooser and Brian Schatz. So I had to dig down quite a bit, in order to choose between those two.

My choice, hands down, is Gary Hooser.

Why?

Balancing Honolulu-Centric Views with a Neighbor Island Perspective

For one thing, every L.G. candidate has declared that "...the Neighbor Island perspective is crucial in this race." And they're right - it really is. But there's only major L.G. candidate who can honestly claim that Neighbor Island perspective as his own - Kauai's Gary Hooser. There's more to Hawaii than one big city, more to consider than high-rises and freeways. If the two top office-holders in the state are both from Honolulu, as is usually the case, the Neighbor Island perspective will once again be lacking.

Look around next time you're in Honolulu, to see if you can find any Neighbor Islanders in high-ranking government positions. It'll be tough - there are very few. Yet Gary was able to take that important N.I. perspective with him when he ended his four years on Kauai's County Council and began serving in the State Senate. He must have used it well - for the last four years, he's been chosen by his peers in the Senate as their Majority Leader.

Both Gary and Brian Schatz have been endorsed by various organizations. So I looked at those endorsements too. Brian's biggest endorsement so far has been that of the 'Hawaii Government Employees Association, the 'HGEA,' and good for him. He's gotten a variety of other union endorsements as well, though as far as I've been able to tell, no organizations other than unions have endorsed him.

Endorsements reflect Hooser's Command of Diverse Issues/Constituencies

Gary, on the other hand, has an amazingly broad range of endorsements - so far, they include Local 5 (Hotel and Hospital Workers), Hawaii Nurses Association, Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action, the Sierra Club (Gary authored the nation's first solar mandate bill, requiring all new homes in Hawaii to use an energy-efficient water heating system), the GLBT Caucus, Hawaii Chiropractic Association, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association ("HSTA").

What impresses me about this list is the wide variety of organizations supporting his candidacy. That tells me a lot about his understanding of diverse issues, and the skills with which he's proven himself as a Senator.

The HSTA endorsement in particular is noteworthy. When Furlough Fridays were first introduced into our children's school lives last year, then-Senator Hooser was the first legislator to propose the solutions that (eventually) were adopted by our state government - using fallow hurricane fund money to get our children back in school. HSTA's voting members "walked right past" two other Lieutenant Governor candidates who might seem more logical - the Senate Education committee's chair (Mr. Sakamoto) and the House Education committee's vice chair (Ms. Berg) - to give their support to Gary Hooser. That says a lot about teachers' confidence in Gary.

Civil Rights

And finally there's civil rights. Senator Hooser, from the start, supported the civil unions bill the legislature debated for the last two years - HB444. He did so even when the Senate Leadership withdrew its support for the bill, putting Gary in the awkward position, as Majority Leader, of supporting legislation that at that particular time was opposed by the Senate President. That takes a lot of courage, and speaks volumes about Gary's commitment to equal rights.

It's a crowded field, this race for Lieutenant Governor. No doubt everyone who's running in it would try to do a good job for Hawaii's people. To my mind, though, only one of the candidates measures up. Gary's got my vote, and I hope he'll get yours too.

Much love,
Shelly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gary Hooser LG Campaign stills needs your help and we need it today!

We must boost our tv advertising now and to do so we need to find 90 new contributors (those that have not made a contribution in 2010) of $100 or less to meet our goal and qualify for matching state funds.

It goes without saying that we welcome larger donations at any time from those who have already exceeded the $100 - 2010 threshold.

Time is running very short. We need your help today. Please help if you can.

Contributions may be made online at http://www.garyhooser.com or for those that prefer to send checks, they can be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu HI 96812.

LG: Poll Predates Strong Endorsements; Highlights need for Big TV Buy

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:31:48 GMT

The recent Star-Advertiser poll tells us the following:

• 50% of the population either has not heard of or does not have enough information on any of the LG candidates.

We must increase our television and radio advertising immediately!

• The poll was conducted prior to the Hawaii State Teachers Association endorsing Hooser over Sakamoto. Teachers all over the State and on every island began last week telephone banking and holding signs in support of our campaign.

• The poll was conducted prior to Sierra Club Hawaii endorsing Hooser over all other candidates. Members are being notified individually today of the organization’s strong support of our candidacy.

• While Sakamoto and Schatz have already spent thousands on television advertising, the poll was conducted prior to the Hooser launch of television which just started last week.

• This type of poll which contacted only 425 voters statewide, under-represents the neighbor-island vote and that combined with the large number of undecided make it very unreliable predictor of the election outcome

• While all four of the major candidates are within striking distance, strength on the neighbor islands will make the difference.
I am counting on each of you to turn out in full force, prove the polls wrong and prove that a strong independent grass-roots effort can win against the business- as-usual machine that is driving the money behind the front-runners.

• A $100 contribution today will ensure one spot on TV or two spots on radio

We need to find just 95 more new people (those who have not yet given in 2010) willing to contribute $100 or less. That will qualify our campaign for matching funds of $50,000 - $85,000 which will all be spent on television and radio advertising to get our name and message out strong statewide.

It goes without saying that we welcome larger donations at any time from those who have already given in excess of the $100 - 2010 thresh-hold and thank you for your generosity and faith in me.

Contributions may be made online at http://www.garyhooser.com or for those that prefer to send checks, they can be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu Hawaii 96812

Today is the most important day of the campaign

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:27:44 GMT

Aloha Friends,
I can win on September 18 and be elected your Lieutenant Governor, but I cannot do this without the help of many people and I write today asking for yours.

It has been a long time since Hawaii has had a true progressive in a top position of leadership. Winning on September 18th, would incredibly strengthen the possibility for a green, progressive and sustainable future for Hawaii.

If you are not familiar with my experience or track record, please visit http://www.garyhooser.com

Suffice it to say that:
I have the life experience, a tangible record of accomplishment and a clear vision for the future - 20 years in business, 4 years in County government, 8 years as a State Senator, 4 years as Majority Leader. I have executive experience, a strong record of leadership and a vision for a prosperous sustainable Hawaii that includes good jobs for local people, educational excellence and energy/food independence.

My record of accomplishment in numerous areas is clear and strong. I have the best record of any LG candidate on the environment, I was the first to speak out against “furlough Fridays” in our schools and to propose a solution. I have the strongest record of accomplishment of any LG candidates on issues pertaining to agriculture, energy independence, social justice and human services. You can count on me to be a champion of these issues now and in the future.

While I am in a position to win, my competition has big business and corporate insiders on their side. For me to compete in the fundraising arena, I have opted to use a public funding option and rely mostly on contributions of $100 or less.

A big part of our strategy is qualifying for "State matching funds" which can amount to from $50,000 to $85,000 and can be used for television and radio advertising. We are now just $15,000 short of reaching our "minimum thresh-hold" goal and qualifying for these funds. To reach this goal means we must attract 150 "new" people who are willing to contribute $100 to our campaign TODAY (only first time contributors of $100 or less can be used to qualify for the match).

If we can do this TODAY then we can launch our television and radio advertising TODAY and make sure our message goes out strong and clear.

Any help you can offer online TODAY at http://www.garyhooser.com is much needed and greatly appreciated. If you prefer, checks may be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu Hawaii, 96812

The TODAY deadline is self-imposed and we will be asking for help all the way until the end. However, TODAY is the most important day of the campaign and we need to move forward strongly with our major media now.

Imua!

Sincerely, gh
Gary Hooser
Former Hawaii State Senator, Majority Leader
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.garyhooser.com

Public Office Should Not Be For Sale

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:16:14 GMT

Aloha Friends,

I have resigned my seat in the Hawaii State Senate in order to serve you as Hawaii's next Lieutenant Governor.

The small donations that mark this campaign tell a simple story: I want to serve the people of Hawaii. Not being indebted to big business and big donors means you can count on me to help ensure that public policy serves the public good.

The mortgage crisis, the near melt-down of Wall Street and the Gulf oil spill all remind us of the importance of public office not being for sale.  

I hope you agree with me and that I can count on your support to get elected. This is the critical point at which I need you to show that support through small donations: whatever you can afford and whatever you can encourage others to give.   

We have charted a pathway to success based on principle, on experience and on my strong proven track record of accomplishment. That pathway to success requires help and support from regular people who share values and who are willing to contribute small amounts of money toward the achievement of a common goal.   

I can win. We can win. But the raw truth is that to win, we must raise the money to invest in television and radio advertising in the weeks leading up to the vote. We do not need to be the top fundraiser in order to win, but we do need to increase the funds currently available in order to reach voters and help them understand what is at stake.   

Whether it is $25, $50, $100 or more - your help is needed today.   

Our plan is to utilize public matching funds and all new contributors (people who have not contributed at all to the campaign during 2010) who give $100 or less will have their contributions matched 100%! To meet the minimum threshold we need your help today and no later than August 12.   

Please contribute your "$100 or less" online today, and then contact your friends, neighbors and family members and ask them to consider making an online credit card contribution at http://www.garyhooser.com .

Checks may also be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu Hawaii 96812. Spouses may contribute separately but checks (joint accounts are ok) must be issued and signed separately.  

We can win. We have a great organization, a strong message, and a growing list of endorsements.   

We have worked hard for over a year getting to this point. Your help is needed today prior to August 12, to carry us the rest of the way across the finish line to victory.

  
Sincerely,
Gary Hooser
Your Candidate For Lieutenant Governor
Watch "The Hooser Story" online video at http://www.garyhooser.com

Unlike Duke Aiona, Gary Hooser Believes In The Separation Of Church And State

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:04:06 GMT

It’s hard to see anything good in what happened on July 6 in Hawaii when Governor Lingle chose injustice over equality by killing HB444, the civil unions bill.

But perhaps something good can be extracted from the day this Governor chose to avoid her responsibility as a leader and to hide behind the skirts of political rhetoric and obfuscation. We might look back and someday see July 6, 2010 as the day people in Hawaii realized how important it is to take back control of their government. We might see July 6 as the day this Republican Governor reminded the people of Hawaii that they need to become more engaged as citizens and to demand accountability of their elected leaders.

July 6 perhaps will mark a critical turning point towards a better future in which we can truly reap the benefits and enjoy the freedoms that our democratic institutions and processes promise.

This will happen only if people show up at the table, and take ownership and responsibility for THEIR government.

That is a big IF. Elections are not simply a choice between Democrats and Republicans, but rather a choice between people, values and vision.

Governor Lingle’s veto on July 6 was a huge step backwards. The people of Hawaii watched as the Governor blatantly disregarded the promises contained in both the Federal and State constitutions. She was aided and abetted in this assault on civil rights by a Lieutenant Governor who has made no secret of his missionary zeal of “saving Hawaii for Jesus” - driven by his version of the bible and his version of God’s word. I also pray to God, but the God I pray to puts love and justice ahead of righteousness and damnation. I believe that faith is an essential component in one’s life, but I also believe in the importance of preserving the separation between Church and state. A Lieutenant Governor, or a Governor who does not understand this fundamental principle is a danger to us all.

We stand now at a cross-roads and the choices are clear.

On election day, September 18 and then again on November 2, the people of Hawaii will choose which path they wish to travel down and which future they want to see for their children and grandchildren.

In the end, the kind of future our children can look forward to will be determined by who shows up and the choices made in the privacy of the voting booth.

The people of Hawaii can choose a future where equality, justice and our constitution are protected and honored, or they can choose to support a system driven by a theocratic dogma that ignores the very foundations of our democracy.

I am hopeful that the wake-up call sent out on July 6 does indeed galvanize the good people of our state. I am hopeful that Hawaii residents will become more fully engaged in a new and sustained spirit of civic responsibility. I urge them to drive, walk or ride the bus to the polls, taking a friend or neighbor with them, and cast their vote for leaders who have the courage and integrity to make decisions that help usher in a future in which everyone in Hawaii enjoys equal rights and protections.

Perhaps then we might be able to raise three, not two, cheers for democracy in Hawaii.

By Gary Hooser, former Hawaii State Senator and Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
More information is available at http://www.garyhooser.com

Final statement as the Senator from Kauai

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:46:40 GMT

Aloha Friends,

This past Friday was my final day as the Senator from Kauai and today marks my first as an official candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor.

Before stepping back into the hectic pace of a full bore statewide campaign, I would like to take a moment to say thank you.

Serving these past eight years as “the Senator from Kauai” has been an honor and a privilege and has allowed me an experience that I will always cherish. During this entire time, I have tried my very best to work hard, to listen, to do my homework, and then to vote my conscience. My door has always remained open and I have tried my best to serve each and every person who has asked for my assistance.

But now, after serving four years on the Kauai County Council, eight years in the Senate, four of which have been as Majority Leader, it is time for me to do more. It’s time for personal growth in service to our community and it is time to apply my many years of experience in business and in government to the statewide office of Lieutenant Governor.

We need someone at the top of government who understands and appreciates the values nurtured by living on an island like Kauai – values grounded in “keeping the country, country” while understanding the importance of creating good jobs and fostering a strong economy.

Hawaii also needs elected officials who have the courage to make tough decisions. Too many elected leaders are driven by political calculation and fear. To achieve our preferred future and the high goals and standards we must set for ourselves, bold and decisive leadership is needed. Timidity does not serve us well.

Time and space today does not permit me the opportunity to fully express all of my feelings and thoughts about the past, nor to properly articulate my vision for the future.

Today is simply a day to say Mahalo to all who have helped me over the years. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the support and confidence you have given, and I ask once again for your help in moving forward.

Sincerely, gh

Former Kauai State Senator and Majority Leader
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor

P.S. If you do want to know more or to help, please visit http://www.garyhooser.com

Please join with me to prove that individuals matter more than special interests

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:20:53 GMT

Aloha,

For the past year our campaign has been the leader in the area of grass-roots fundraising. While our total amount of funds raised has not exceeded our competitors, we have beaten them hands down as to the total number of individuals giving to our campaign. It is my goal to maintain this lead and demonstrate clearly that such a campaign, a campaign funded by the people, can win.

I am writing today because June 30th is a key date for our campaign. If possible, I need your additional help and support via an online contribution before the end of the day on Wednesday the 30th. Later contributions are of course welcome but online contributions today or tomorrow are especially important.

June 30th is the cutoff date to receive campaign contributions for this final reporting period before the election. A strong fundraising report is very important at this juncture in the campaign. We have already raised in excess of $140,000 since the start of our campaign. However, we still need to raise an additional $150,000 before the Primary election on September 18th.

I am absolutely positive that grass-roots support can win this election, and I am determined to achieve our fundraising goals utilizing small donations from many people. So with this conviction, I ask you to join with me and prove that individuals matter more than special interests.

If 1,000 people contribute $100 apiece, that would raise $100,000 and send an incredibly powerful message out into the community. Specifically, that would cover the cost of a necessary major media campaign needed during the final 6 weeks. This is critical to ensuring that our positive message of change is heard strong and clear statewide.

Or, if you or a friend or family member that has not yet contributed - 500 new people contributing $50 would raise $50,000 because these contributions would be matched by state funds (the State will match up to $100 aggregate).

Our campaign is on track with a strong message, a solid team in place and good people helping on each island. We are leading in grass-root support statewide, but we must translate our strong grass-roots support into strong financial support as well.

Please help me prove that grass-roots support can win. Your $100 contribution and/or that of a new friend or family member contributing $50 can make the difference...not just for this campaign, but for a strong economy, energy independence, improved education, and equality for all.

Mahalo in advance for any and all help you can provide prior to the end of the day on June 30th and for your support after this date as well.

Contributions may be mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu Hawaii 96812 or via credit card online at www.garyhooser.com

I sincerely thank you for any help and support you are able to offer at this time and promise that I will continue unwaveringly with my commitment to those issues we both hold dear.

Yours Truly,

Gary Hooser
State Senator
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.garyhooser.com

Remarks - Urging The U.S. Senate To Pass A Comprehensive Climate/Energy Bill

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:42:39 GMT

In the time it takes me to speak to you today, somewhere between 5 and 25 thousand gallons of oil will leak into the gulf. Countless birds, fish, and wildlife will slowly die. And pristine marshlands, once full of this life, will be silenced. It’s time.

President Obama last week said we need to move forward on clean energy. I agree. And I get excited when he says this. But my excitement is short lived, because then I remember all of the promises given by some many in the past.

I remember George W. Bush saying a few years ago that we needed to rid ourselves of our addiction to oil.

In 1979 with 37% of oil coming from foreign sources I remember Jimmy Carter saying,” Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977-never.” We have doubled our dependence since then.

I even remember Richard Nixon in 1974 saying, “by 1980 the U.S. will no longer be dependent on any other country for the energy we need!” Wow, makes me want to go campaign for him.

From Nixon to Obama, the last 8 presidents of the United States have all made bold statements about the importance of our country getting off of our addiction to oil.

But yet our dependency only grows. I for one am tired of the rhetoric. How many more young people have to die in the middle east?

How many more ecological disasters must we endure...all in the name of protecting the profit margins of Exxon Mobile, BP and the like?

I am here today, to plead with our leaders in Washington D.C. to recognize the urgency and to have the courage and the resolve to move forward aggressively to enact a bold comprehensive climate and clean energy Bill today.

I for one am tired. I’m tired of the rhetoric.

I’m tired of politicians more worried about their careers than they are of protecting our planet.

I’m tired of the electric utility and big oil lobby being able to spend 120 times more than alternative energy (.5 million to 60 million) to buy Washington. And if you think big oil owning Washington’s an overstatement, there’s about 200 million gallons of oil in the gulf to prove my point. It’s time.

We all know humans make mistakes. But I don’t think it’s any coincidence that we had two oil men in the White-house for 8 years and something like this happens.

Am I surprised this happened. No. In fact I can’t believe it took this long.

This country has never been serious about getting off of our dependence on oil

It’s time. It’s time for an Energy Revolution. The naysayers tell us it will cost too much. In fact here in Hawaii the renewable energy industry has created thousands of jobs and is prospering! And what will be the true cost of the disaster unfolding in the gulf?

We are asking our leaders in Washington to show some guts. We are asking them to make the hard decisions. We are asking them to take a chance and to bet against big oil and in favor of people and our planet.

I will thank you. Your kids will thank you. And their kids will thank you.

We are all here today to ask, to plead to demand that bold changes to this countries energy policy be made now, today,before the November elections.

We are losing our country to big oil and now it’s time to take it back.

It’s time for leadership. A strong, bold, comprehensive energy bill will transform our environment, our economy, our national security, and our future.

It’s not only time. It’s long, long overdue.

Gary Hooser
Hawaii State Senator
Majority Leader
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.garyhooser.com

Requesting your consideration, support and vote for the office of LG‏

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:56:29 GMT

Aloha,

On September 18th voters in Hawaii will choose in a primary election, a new Governor and new Lieutenant Governor.

I am writing today to humbly ask for your consideration, support and vote for the office of Lieutenant Governor.

My life experience is broad and my record of legislative accomplishments as the Senate Majority Leader is solid.

I am the original author of the “first in the nation” Solar Hot Water Mandate, requiring every home built in Hawaii to have a solar hot water heater or other highly efficient system. The public benefits, both economic and environmental, are significant and far-reaching. Sustainability advocates have lauded my record, seeing someone who is a strong ally they can rely on.

In the Senate, I led the effort to pass HB444, the civil unions bill granting equal rights to same gender couples. I am pleased that the House has also stepped up to its responsibility and recently voted to pass this significant legislation on to the governor. It was the right thing to do.

As the Majority Leader in the Senate, I was the first to speak out strongly on the crisis with regard to furlough Fridays. I proposed a solution and funding source which both the House and the Senate have recently agreed to. I am pleased that according to the announcement today by the governor, furlough Fridays will soon end.

My life experience surpasses that of all other candidates in this race. I’ve served at the County Council and State Senate levels, owned and operated a business, worked with businesses in Honolulu and survived two hurricanes on Kauai. My record of achievement during the past 30 years both in the private sector and in elected office is significant. My wife and I raised our family on Kauai with all the challenges and benefits that rural living brings. I want to “keep the country, country” but I understand how the city works –and how it can work better for you.

While the Governor is occupied with the day-to-day management of the State, and while the legislature is dealing with thousands of new legislative proposals, I envision utilizing the Lieutenant Governor’s office as a place where people from varying perspectives come together to develop, strategize and implement long-term solutions to our most pressing challenges.

If you are interested in finding out more about my qualifications, experience and values I encourage you to visit www.garyhooser.com. I would be happy to meet with you or address any interested group you might belong to. Call me on my cell if you like – 652-4279.

Sincerely,

Gary Hooser
Hawaii State Senator
Candidate – Lieutenant Governor

P.S. And yes, if you like what you see and are inclined to support my candidacy, please consider joining our grassroots campaign by: volunteering, signing up for our regular email newsletter or making a modest online financial contribution at www.garyhooser.com

Campaign at Critical Turning Point - Your Grassroots Support is Needed Now

Tue, 04 May 2010 04:17:29 GMT

Aloha Friend,

Thanks to the help of many, our campaign for Lieutenant Governor is on track with strong statewide momentum building daily. May marks a critical turning point in the campaign as the legislative session ends and the statewide ground campaign increases in activity.

To successfully implement this next phase of the campaign, we have to restock all campaign materials; yard signs, bumper stickers, brochures, posters, banners, t-shirts, etc.

Your help and financial support is needed now so that we can maintain our positive momentum around the state. We have a great organization with a strong message. We have mapped out a winning strategy with people helping on every island and more joining in every day.

Continued success greatly depends on your help today. No contribution is too small, and contributions of $100 or less are matched with public funds.

Contributions may be made via credit card online at http://www.garyhooser.com or checks mailed to Friends of Gary Hooser, P.O. Box 4094, Honolulu HI 96812.

Thank you in advance for any support you may be able to offer today. As always, if you have questions or concerns, or perhaps would like to discuss issues that are important to you - do not hesitate to call me directly. To learn more about my background and why I am seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor, please visit http://www.garyhooser.com.

Mahalo, GH

Hawaii State Senator Gary L. Hooser
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Watch "The Hooser Story" at http://www.garyhooser.com

Senate Majority Leader Hooser Draws The Line & Pledges To Vote NO On State Budget

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:19:18 GMT

Senate Majority Leader Hooser Draws The Line & Pledges To Vote NO On State Budget - Unless school furloughs days are fully funded

Budget Remarks presented By Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser on the Senate Floor April 8, 2010

"At the end of the day...I will find it very difficult if not impossible to support a budget that continues to reduce educational opportunities for our children, continues to degrade the quality of the University of Hawaii, risks causing through neglect further harm to our parks and natural environment, and continues to reduce vital important services under the guise of fiscal responsibility to our most vulnerable - the mentally ill, the very poor and those most in need of a safety net....I feel compelled to cast this (today's) vote with deep reservations and a clear message of a willingness to vote NO on final reading unless the direction is changed significantly, unless we are absolutely clear in our resolve to restore and make whole our public schools, to end furlough Fridays, unless we are firmly committed to end the downward spiral of cuts and takeaways from those who are most vulnerable - unless these things happen I will be unable to support the budget on final reading"

Hawaii State Senate
Majority Leader Gary Hooser
http://www.garyhooser.com

Prayer delivered on floor of the Hawaii State Senate - March 31, 2010

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:21:19 GMT

A PRAYER FROM SIOUX CHILDREN OF RED CLOUD SCHOOL, PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA

O’ GREAT SPIRIT,
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
Hear me! I am weak, I need your strength and wisdom.

Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes
Ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make My Hands respect the things you have
Made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand the
Things you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden
In every leaf and rock.

I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my
Sister or my brother, but to fight my greatest
Enemy – myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you with
Clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,
My spirit may come to you
Without shame.

Above prayer delivered by Ms Joann Nakashima on floor of the Hawaii State Senate on March 31, 2010

Senator Gary L. Hooser
Majority Leader - Hawaii State Senate
http://www.garyhooser.com

Conscience, Courage and Community

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:37:26 GMT

“We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.” Thoughtful words for tough times and words we can and should take to heart.

In revisiting the words of Abraham Lincoln and recalling the efforts of previous Presidents from both parties to make healthcare available to all, President Obama’s address Saturday morning to the Democratic caucus of Congress was an eloquent call to conscience. I felt as if he were talking to us Democrats here in Hawai‘i. This President understands what it means to win but he is not willing to sacrifice integrity to “success.” He believes, as we all should, that good policy ultimately makes good politics though it might call for tough choices in the near term.

We are far removed from the nation’s capital, but never closer to the Presidency with a Hawaii-born President who reflects by instinct, by faith and by practice, the early shaping of his character and values here in Hawai‘i.

The President was talking specifically about the historic healthcare bill. But he might just as well have been talking about all the challenges we are facing here in Hawai‘i. We, more than any other place in the country, should be able to address those challenges in a just and effective way by drawing on the strengths of the host culture that have helped shape us and produced the kind of community we are privileged to have.

People are hurting more than ever. Our children who need all the education and training they can get to prepare them for the future are shamefully being kept out of school because we cannot seem to rise above our immediate self-interest to serve the interests of those who elected us. A major public works project-rail-that brings with it the promise of thousands of jobs and a boost to the economy like no other project on the horizon does-is being hobbled by last minute second-guessing and the paralysis of perpetual skepticism from some quarters. Equal rights for all-a concept so fundamentally American and that we try to export to the world-is being jeopardized by religious zealotry and needless fear of the gay community on the grounds of their sexuality. In the name of so-called debate, the airwaves are filled too often with the mindless repetition of lies about public policy advanced by those who would fight reform at any cost, even at the cost of their own integrity and service to their constituents.

With Sunday’s vote, 32 million more Americans will get what all Americans deserve: long overdue basic healthcare services that should be their right in a society as developed as ours. But in the days that follow, what is equally urgent is that we continue to follow the call of conscience and place being true above “winning.” In so doing, in making the greater good more important than individual interest, in being one of the voices that make the difference, we as a community stand our best chance of truly succeeding.

State Senator Gary Hooser
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Join me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/supportgaryhooser
On Twitter garyhooser
Main website http://www.garyhooser.com

Hooser Leads All LG Candidates In Experience

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:20:31 GMT

15 years in business, 4 years as County Council Member, 8 years as State Senator, 4 years as Senate Majority Leader

With over 40 years of diverse experience living and raising his family in Hawaii, Senator Gary Hooser knows and understands the needs of both urban Honolulu and the neighbor islands. As a graduate of Hawaii public schools, a former member of the Operating Engineers Local #3, a survivor of two hurricanes, and someone who has come up through the ranks of life and earned his success, Hooser is the most experienced candidate in the race.
Hooser - Experience you can count on.

Please Join Our Grassroots Campaign Today

Three Ways To Help:

Request a FREE Bumper Sticker! --Email votegaryhooser@yahoo.com with your mailing address and we will send you some immediately FREE!

Volunteer Today! --Our grassroots campaign wants your help. Only 3 hours per month can make all the difference. Sign up online at http://www.garyhooser.com !

Donate $25 to $100 online today! --Your contribution will be matched with public funds. Your $50 contribution becomes $100 with matching funds! Donate at http://www.garyhooser.com today.

State Senator Gary Hooser
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Join me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/supportgaryhooser
On Twitter garyhooser
Main website http://www.garyhooser.com

Hooser Leads All LG Candidates In Grassroots Support

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:21:25 GMT

Based on recent fundraising reports filed by the various LG candidates, we are pleased to report that Senator Gary Hooser is the front runner in grassroots donations of $100 or less. Hooser is the front runner both in terms of total grassroots funds raised and the % of total funds raised, with more than 28% coming from small contributors (when comparing top three fundraising candidates the other two were at 7% and 2%).

Please Join Our Grassroots Campaign Today
GRASSROOTS SUPPORT CAN TRUMP BIG MONEY

Three Ways To Help:

Request a FREE Bumper Sticker!
Email votegaryhooser@yahoo.com with your mailing address and we will send you some immediately FREE!

Volunteer Today!
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State Senator Gary Hooser
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
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Main website http://www.garyhooser.com