HONOLULU –
Hawaii was then faced with the possibility of three elections in two months for the 2nd District seat — Nov. 5 with Mink on the ballot, Nov. 30 to fill the rest of her term, and, if Mink wins the first vote, Jan. 4 for the next term.
Anzai said the governor's decision to try and get Mink's name off the Nov. 5 ballot was influenced by Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision not to intervene in a New Jersey decision to allow that state's Democratic Party to replace Sen. Robert Toricelli with former Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
``I think the New Jersey Supreme Court decision has something to do with it,'' Anzai said.
The state Supreme Court, meanwhile, rejected another petition Monday that was aimed at saving the cost of the Nov. 30 special election by holding it concurrent with the Nov. 5 general election.
The justices cited a law requiring that the proclamation for an election ``shall be issued not later than the sixtieth day prior to the election.'' The ruling means the Nov. 30 special election will be held.
At least 17 candidates are seeking to serve out Mink's unexpired term.
Micah Kane, chairman of the state Republican Party, criticized the Democratic Party's attempt to name Mink's replacement, arguing that voters in Mink's district should make that decision.
``It's dangerous and it's crazy that the Democrats are trying to put their own judgment before the judgment of the people,'' Kane said in a statement.
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