Capitol Watch: Nov. 8

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Watching and reporting about Hawaii politics and government.

3:35 p.m. Chang Confirmed As GOP Chair

The Hawaii Republican Party‘s State Committee — fifty-one elected House District Chairs, four County Chairs, Executive Committee members and Republican leaders in the state House and state Senate — voted unanimously for David S. Chang as party chair to fill the remainder of the 2011-2013 term.

The vote was Saturday, but the GOP is just now making it official.

Chang is the CEO and president of Chang Holding Company, which is several companies including CS Design Builders. He is a West Point graduate and East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellow.

3 p.m. Lingle’s Platform on Video

U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle announced today her campaign is rolling out a series of videos detailing her positions on “issues of importance to the people of Hawaii,” according to a press release.

The videos are posted on her website and YouTube.

Whether anyone will notice during the middle of APEC is another question.

12:25 p.m. Rapoza Back With Hanabusa

Richard Rapoza has been handling communications for Colleen Hanabusa‘s re-election campaign. Today, he assumed director of communications duties for her congressional office, working out of the Honolulu district office.

Rapoza will keep separate email addresses and phones for the political and the congressional work. Hanabusa’s congressional press secretary, Ashley Nagaoka Boylan, is not involved in the campaign.

11 a.m. ‘The Problem With Hawaii’

The very conservative The American Spectator has this article that takes Hawaii to task over the Voting Rights Act.

It’s complicated issue involving voter jurisdictions in other states.

But, among other things, the article’s author is critical of renewed efforts by Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka to pass part of the Akaka bill — the part about federal recognition of Hawaiians — in the U.S. Senate

10 a.m. ‘I Hate Linda Lingle

That’s the name of a Facebook account posted by an anonymous person.

(The account’s basic information only says, “I just hate Linda Lingle and want people to know.”)

As of this morning, the page had no friends and only four “likes.”

ILWU To Endorse Hannemann?

Maui Now has this item that reports Mufi Hannemann and the ILWU Local 142 will hold a press conferences tomorrow in Wailuku and Hilo.

As the article notes, nearly 80 percent of ILWU membership lives on neighbor islands. Maybe Hannemann will get the union’s support on his run for the U.S. Congress?

Briefing: Medication Shortages

Senate Health is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. at the Capitol to address “vital medication shortages in Hawaii and nationally.”

DOH, Kaiser, HMSA and Pfizer Inc. are among those who have been invited to testify.

Where’s Neil?

Here’s Neil:

• Voices of the Future Opening Ceremony, Kamehameha Schools, 9 a.m.

Charges Dropped Against Big Isle Blogger

Check out the latest in Neighbor Island government-related news:

Free (but temporary) medical care coming to Kauai

Term limits to shake up Hawaii County Council

Army’s plan to upgrade Pohakuloa already panned by some members of community

Circuit Court denies county motion against Waikoloa affordable housing developer

Hydro outreach efforts under way on Kauai

Obstruction charged dropped against Big Isle blogger

Free Legislature workshops coming up in Lihue

Hawaii County Councilors’ monthly gas stipend targeted

Ainaloa pipe-bomb suspect in court

Catch up on previous coverage:

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