It’s a busy local election season and there’s a lot to report. Here’s a few political tidbits that surfaced this past week:

• The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, a private sector union representing more than 6,100 members, endorsed Gov. Neil Abercrombie for re-election. Union boss Ron Taketa says the governor has done a good job with the economy and jobs.

• The Equality Hawaii Action Fund, a nonpartisan PAC dedicated to electing pro-equality candidates, is backing U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in his bid for two more years in office. Schatz, the fund says, “has been a longtime supporter of the LGBT community and its struggle for equality.”

• Retired United States Army lieutenant general and former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry supports Colleen Hanabusa for U.S. Senate. He likes her politics “of inclusion and consensus building.”

• Schatz and Hanabusa will be on KITV Monday at 9 p.m. for a televised debate co-sponsored by Civil Beat.

• Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige will debate on Hawaii News Now Thursday at 7 p.m. in a forum co-sponsored by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

• Abercrombie signed bills regarding family child care homes and liquor license classes on Maui today. This is the second time in a week the governor went to a neighbor island to sign bills.

• Abercrombie held a campaign fundraiser Wednesday at 12th Avenue Grill in Kaimuki. The suggested contribution was $1,000. It was Abercrombie’s 16th fundraiser this year.

• Kimo Sutton, a Republican running for lieutenant governor, is expected to a hold campaign fundraiser later today at Oahu Country Club. The suggested donation starts at $50 and goes as high as $6,000.

• The seven Democrats running in the 1st Congressional District primary will meet on “Insights” on PBS Hawaii Thursday at 8 p.m. It may be the last time all seven will share the same space, although there are efforts to get them together on at least one local TV station before the Aug. 9 primary.

• Charles Djou, who is seeking the GOP nomination for the CD1 race, said he was excited about the pending appointment of former Procter and Gamble CEO, Robert McDonald, as the new secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Djou is a former congressman and an Afghan war veteran.

• State Rep. Faye Hanohano, a Democrat who faces several competitors this year, led the crowd in singing “Hawaii Ponoi” at a Department of Interior hearing on Native Hawaiian federal recognition in Keaukaha on the Big Island Wednesday.

• State Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, who faces a primary challenger on Kauai, held a fundraiser June 27 in Lihue. Contributions ranged from silver ($200), gold ($500) and platinum ($1,000).

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Ron Taketa of the carpenters unions.

Abercrombie for Governor