A three-judge federal panel will hear the case challenging the state reapportionment plan that excludes nonresident military and dependents beginning Friday morning, May 18, at 10 a.m. Civil Beat’s Nanea Kalani has been approved to live blog from the hearing.
For those interested, here’s a link to the state’s legal memo in opposition to the plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction. It has a lengthy and detailed history that tracks the political and legal development of the current plan. Very interesting.
With the candidate filing deadline just three weeks away, there is obviously a lot of pressure on the court to quickly render a decision that allows the elections to go forward.
If the current reapportionment plan stands, there are two interesting races shaping up out on our side of the island.
Jessica Wooley, who currently represents Kaaawa and the rest of House District 47, now lives just inside the boundary of the newly redrawn District 48 and has taken out papers to run in the new district, where she will apparently face House Majority Leader Pono Chong in the August Primary Election. Former Republican Rep. Colleen Meyer, who was defeated by Wooley in 2008, has also taken out nomination papers.
Senate District 25, already in the news because of the internal flap in the Democratic Party over former Lingle cabinet member Laura Thielen to run as a Democrat, looks to be heating up even more.
In an email to friends this week, Nancy Caraway solicited campaign support for Levani Lipton, who has already filed to run in the 25th Senate District.
Here’s what Caraway, who is married to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, said about her friend, Lipton.
Raised windward, Harvard Kennedy School
Directs int’l development aid organization
Levani is the most authentic, committed, smart young leader in Hawaii today!
That is saying a lot. And she’s even more
This is her first run for public office.
Former Senator Fred Hemmings has also taken out papers to run in the district. I guess Fred found out that retirement wasn’t all that much fun.
Incumbent Sen. Pohai Ryan has not yet taken out nomination papers.
None of the potential candidates have held a fundraiser to date, according to a check with the Campaign Spending Commission’s database.
So election districts are still subject to change, candidates are already campaigning, and everything could change depending on the court’s decision on Friday.
Sounds like exciting times ahead!