Which Way Will Ed Run?
The rarest of Washington creatures - a moderate - Democratic Congressman Ed Case ponders whether a run against Republican Gov. Linda Lingle might be in his future in 2006, or if he’ll wait for an opening in the U.S. Senate, where Hawaii is represented by two men who will turn 81 this year.
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Del.icio.usThey run the gamut. Someone asks about the condition of Waianae’s streets and parks and shrinking beach access along the coast. Case points out that issues are mostly the province of the state and county.
A lady, in tears, asks why Waianae High School is the only one in the state without a high school band. Case says, “I’ll write. My job is to cut through these things.” But again Case points out that education is a state issue and the woman should call her state legislators.
Case listens carefully to all, whether they’re asking a question or making a speech. He shows no sign of impatience. He stands quietly, with a look that resembles stoicism on his face, hands behind his back. His only movement is one thumb circling the other.
He wears tan slacks and a brown, pineapple print aloha shirt — nothing flashy or particularly fashionable. He wears an inexpensive rubberized Casio watch. His sideburns are cut unstylishly short. He looks younger than his 52 years, but not a lot younger. He has begun to thicken in the middle.
Case looks at his watch; he’s run over the allotted hour. “I obviously didn’t leave enough time for questions,” Case says, “but I have to get down the road to Nanakuli.”
As Case moves toward the door, he shakes more hands, talks briefly to lingerers, refers a questioner to one of his aides.
CASE talks with a reporter as he navigates rainy, busy Farrington Highway en route to his 11 a.m. session at Nanikapono Elementary School.
“What’s the worst part of being a congressman? Being away from family and Hawaii. My wife, Audrey, is at home and so are two of my four children. My heart is here.
“What part of the job didn’t I expect? The degree of partisanship. Too many decisions in Congress are made on partisan grounds rather than on the merits.”
Case fancies himself a centrist.
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