Consider this quote from George Ariyoshi’s “Hawaiʻi’s Future.”

“For those who have the potential to exercise leadership, you know who you are. Don’t shirk. Don’t hold back. Don’t shrink from getting involved because it’s complicated. You live only once. Give the voter credit for intelligence. Becoming an effective advocate for the unseen and those yet to be born is doable. Like any skill, it can be cultivated.”

As Hawaiʻi’s longest-serving governor, Ariyoshi says this better than anyone. All I can add is an echo.
The time to “pull papers” and declare yourself a candidate is now.

Please, just do it.

Hawaii’s primary election is Aug. 8 — only six months away.

We need you.

For democracy to work, competitive elections are essential. Far too many elected leaders in government go unchallenged at the ballot box.

As a result, they become content, complacent, and sometimes arrogant — attached like ʻopihi to their status, their titles and their photo ops.

Going along to get along, protecting and preserving the status quo, fear-based no rock the boat decision-making is what we get when election challengers fail to show up.

Unfortunately, the negative stereotype of the crooked politician — and the inaccurate belief that candidates must be insiders in order to win — discourage good people from stepping up to serve.

Additionally, many seem to believe they must be willing to compromise their core values to be effective public servants.

After serving 16 years in public office, I can attest with confidence that these are, indeed, stereotypes and inaccurate beliefs.

When first elected to the Kauaʻi County Council in 1998, I was mostly, as Bob Dylan might say, a complete unknown. I was a struggling small business owner, active in the Rotary Club of Kapaʻa, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. But I was a long, long, long way from being an insider, connected to political power brokers.

As for the corruption that seems to permeate the political landscape: At no time in my 16 years of service was I ever witness to, or aware of, any incidents of bribery or other direct political payoffs.

Clearly, corruption happens and is happening. It’s in the news now almost daily. Absolutely, there are bad apples — scumbags, actually — but I do not believe it is pervasive.

Yes, the halls of government are filled with friends helping friends. There’s plenty of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” And yes, sometimes these arrangements reach levels that are de facto corrupt.

But direct quid pro quo situations — exchanges of money under the table (or $35,000 in paper bags), in return for killing a bill, or voting a certain way — are, I believe, the exception and not the rule.

Throughout my years in office I had strong support from both environmental and labor advocates. They could count on my votes and support, and I could count on their support as well. I voted based on my values and no one ever offered me money to change a vote, or take any specific action.

Fortunately, I learned early in my political career to just be me, and to listen to my na‘au — my gut instincts. Some people believe that politics is the art of the compromise. But I can’t remember ever casting a vote that compromised my own core values.

Without question, we need new energy, new ideas, and new political leadership at every level of our government. Recycling the “same old, same old” will not get us where we need to go.

There are good people in public service now, but we must add to their numbers, and challenge them to do more and be better.

That’s why we need you.

Yes, you.

If you’ve read this far, then you’ve undoubtedly thought about running for public office.

If you have deep roots in the community, a proven track record of community involvement, and if you cannot sleep at night because of all that is happening in this country and on this planet, we need you.

Serving as an elected official literally gives you a seat at the table of governance. With the stroke of a pen, and the support of a majority, you can help create the positive change this world needs so desperately.

If not you, then who?

Gary Hooser
First published in Civil Beat A Call To Public Service: If Not You, Then Who?