Andy Winer, who was the campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka during his successful primary against former congressman Ed Case in 2006, has joined U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono’s Senate campaign as a senior advisor.

Hirono has assembled many of the same key advisors who helped Akaka fend off Case for her August primary against Case.

Betsy Lin, Hirono’s chief of staff and campaign manager, was field director for the Akaka campaign. Elisa Yadao, who is helping with communications and debates, did similar work for Akaka.

Winer, who has been working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, led Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Hawaii in 2008.

The Hirono campaign also announced on Tuesday that Carolyn Tanaka, an experienced communications advisor, will join as deputy campaign manager in charge of communications.

Two public-sector interests — the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the County of Kauai — were in the top five for lobbying expenses from January through February, according to the state Ethics Commission.

The period covers the first part of the 60-day legislative session. Here are the biggest spenders:

*Altria Client Services (tobacco) — $48,410

*Visa, Inc. — $37,500

*Hawaii State Teachers Association — $29,582

*Hawaii Medical Service Association — $27,450

*County of Kauai — $25,000

(Star-Advertiser file photo)

Ted Liu, the former director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in Gov. Linda Lingle’s administration, was again elected by fellow Republicans to serve as the state party’ national committeeman.

Liu defeated former state party chairman Willes Lee by a 169-137 vote by delegates at Saturday’s Hawaii Republican Party State Convention.

It was the second time the two faced off for the position. Saturday’s vote was watched closely because Liu had defeated Lee in January by a single vote as the party filled the slot vacated by Brennon Morioka.

Several Republicans had protested the January vote alleging, among other things, that some votes were cast improperly by proxy. A move to rescind the vote ultimately was defeated.

On Saturday, Liu received support from Lingle and former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona, who spoke on his behalf. Sen. Sam Slom spoke in favor of Lee.

Liu begins his new four-year term after his current term ends following the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27-30 in Tampa.

Republican National Committeewoman Miriam Hellreich was unopposed in her bid and was reelected unanimously.

The Abercrombie administration on Tuesday released the draft of its information technology overhaul and asked for public comment through June 1.

Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, the state’s chief information officer, is leading the effort to replace the state’s aging and outdated technology infrastructure over the next several years.

Here are the goals:

• Governance and Management Methodologies – The life-cycle management of processes and policies that guide the management and oversight of the state’s portfolio of business transformation and IT investments, acquisitions and projects, including system development, business process re-engineering, and infrastructure improvements.
• Business and IT/Information Resources Management (IRM) Transformation Strategic Plan – The Business and IT/IRM Transformation Strategic Plan documents the mission, vision, goals, strategies objectives, and performance measures of the transformation effort, as well as specific prioritized projects and initiatives that will be launched over the next 10 years.
• Enterprise Architecture – The blueprint for change that provides the framework for the design and development of IT systems, applications, business information, and processes to best support the goals and missions of the various departments’ line of business. This also describes the details relative to ongoing and planned investments and projects that will address the transition between from state’s current information technology environment to the future vision and the sequence that projects should be implemented over the next eight to ten years.
• Projects – An overview of the business process reengineering and IT/IRM projects that have been completed, are currently being implemented or are being planned.

The Center for Responsive Politics has an interesting breakdown of campaign fundraising data in Hawaii’s U.S. Senate race.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the leading Republican candidate, has raised 42 percent of her campaign money from Hawaii and 58 percent on the mainland, according to the group’s research.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has collected 72 percent in Hawaii and 28 percent on the mainland.

Former congressman Ed Case, Hirono’s rival in the Democratic primary, has brought in 77 percent from Hawaii and 23 percent from the mainland.

The research is based on contributions greater than $200, so the figures do not add up to the fundraising totals for the candidates. Political action committee donations are also not included.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has picked up the endorsement of the National Women’s Political Caucus in her Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate.

Hirono is up against former congressman Ed Case in the primary to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Former Gov. Linda Lingle is the leading Republican candidate.

Hirono had already earned the support of women’s groups such as EMILY’s List.

From NWPC President Linda Young:

Take a look at Congresswoman Hirono’s personal background and political history. She has worked extremely hard to be where she is, and she won’t stop here. She truly knows the state of Hawaii and the people that live there. What a great advocate she would be in the Senate!

Case made his pitch for the women’s vote last Saturday at a rally for women at the state Capitol.

First, former Gov. Ben Cayetano came out swinging in the first debate featuring all three mayoral candidates, even bringing U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye into the fold by calling him “out of touch” on the issue of rail in Honolulu.

Next came the senator’s response, that he was “deeply offended.”

Now comes a petition from the Pacific Resource Partnership, an advocacy group for Hawaii’s unionized carpenters and contractors, defending Inouye and calling on the former two-term Democratic governor to apologize. PRP also is behind I Mua Rail, a campaign to support the city’s rail transit project.

From the website:

“When Ben Cayetano disrespects Senator Inouye — a man of integrity and honor with a distinguished record of public service — he’s disrespecting all of us.

UPDATE (4:30 p.m.)

Cayetano responded this afternoon, saying he stood by the comment and he does not feel he disrespected Inouye when he said the senator was “misinformed.” He added:

“What is there to apologize for? This is a campaign. I said some things and I don’t think what I said should be taken by anyone who is as experienced as Sen. Inouye is as offensive. For crying out loud, people say worse things about me every day.”

If you were unable to attend Wednesday’s mayoral debate, the first of the campaign season, you will have at least three four chances to catch it on Olelo.

The viewing schedule can be found here, by searching “mayoral debate.”

A quick look at the rebroadcast schedule:

UPDATE (5/4/2012):

The debate also will be televised on Friday, May 11 at 6 p.m. on Olelo Channel 54.

One of the great quotes in politics is: “You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.”

On Tuesday, state Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kaneohe-Kailua), who was caught up this session in an often bitter dispute between library enthusiasts over fundraising on state library property, dropped some poetry before the Senate voted on a bill to clarify the issue.

“From the AG to the governor, to the top of the daily news,
“Bills about our libraries, have gotten mixed reviews.
“Some love it, some hate it, but in the end they’ll see,
“That like a good romance novel, these changes were meant to be.
“As is the legislative process, amendments were made at every turn,
“Focussed on increasing support for our libraries,
“Accountability, transparency, and helping people learn.
“This was never about taking, only helping groups give back.
“We care about our libraries, I assure you that’s a fact.
“They are critical to our communities, and their volunteers can’t be beat,
“So your conference committee has worked real hard,
“To ensure they can all operate legally.
“From Budget and Finance to DoTax, to the AG and the BoE,
“Many minds have come together, to produce the bill you see.
“So is this it? The final fix we need?
“I hope so. Desperately.
“Because in the end we all need friends.
“Big ones, little ones, and everyone in between.”

Lawmakers completed work today on 47 bills that were left on the table Friday that appeared to be casualties of the budget stalemate between the House and Senate.

^^Crowd gathers outside Room 309 to await start of today’s conference committee.

Agreements had largely been reached before an internal deadline of 6 p.m. Friday to have work completed on all bills, but many with a financial component were simply awaiting approval from theei respective money committees.

The bills included measures for ambulance service on the Leeward coast, expanded visa programs and travel opportunities to lure international visitors, proposals related to space tourism and a key component of the Abercrombie administration’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative.

Conferees met at 10 a.m. today and after an hour completed votes on 46 of the 47 measures. The final bill, HB304 (grants-in-aid for public health, welfare and education programs) required a bit more negotiating and was completed by 11:10 a.m.

^^ Lawmakers, staff and other interested parties cram into Room 309.