Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
By NANCY COOK LAUER
Stephens Media
With the help of cheering supporters, Hawaiian music and fragrant food, a former restaurant was transformed Wednesday into the East Hawaii campaign headquarters for native son and former U.S. Rep. Ed Case.
The moderate “Blue Dog” Democrat who for four years had represented the 2nd Congressional District covering rural Oahu and the Neighbor Islands, is squaring off against current District 2 Rep. Mazie Hirono in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
The winner will face likely GOP primary winner and former Gov. Linda Lingle on Nov. 6. The Senate seat is being vacated by Democrat Sen. Daniel Akaka, who is retiring after 22 years in the Senate and 13 years in the House.
“This is not just an election. This is the choice of a generation,” Case told the crowd of several hundred. “This is where the future of our country starts.”
Case, 59, and his wife, Audrey, are midway through a 10-day swing around Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai. Over the weekend, Case and his campaign visited Spencer Beach Park, Hapuna Beach, Wailea Bay, Kekaha Kai, Pine Trees and Honokohau in West Hawaii.
Case was born in Hilo, grew up on the Keaukaha oceanfront and went to Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea before heading to the mainland for college, culminating with a law degree in 1981 from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Fransisco. He moved to Oahu after college and has recently been working for the Honolulu law firm Bays Deaver Lung Rose & Baba.
Case told Stephens Media before the ceremony that it’s never been more important to send more moderates to Washington, D.C., and especially to the Senate.
“I don’t believe we can govern this country from the extremes,” Case said.
Case in 2006 ran afoul of senior Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye when he chose not to run for re-election to his congressional seat and instead challenged Akaka for Senate. He lost the primary to Akaka.
In 2010, he entered a three-way special election for the 1st Congressional District, splitting the Democratic vote and resulting in a win for the Republican, Charles Djou.
He then left the September 2010 election, allowing fellow Democrat Colleen Hanabusa to return the seat to Democratic control.
Campaign co-chairmen are Jan Higashi, Jay Kimura, Charlie Heaukulani and DayDay Hopkins. The headquarters is located in the Kaikodo Building at the corner of Waianuenue Avenue and Keawe Street.
“I’ve been supporting Ed for many, many years,” said Kimura, former Hawaii County prosecutor. “He’s got the good character and knowledge to be a good senator. He’s never lost touch with the people.”
More information about Case is at his website, edcase.com.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.