Senate bound
February 17th, 2012
By ddepledge
By ddepledge
State Rep. Robert Herkes (D, Volcano-Kainaliu) will run for the newly created state Senate seat in the Puna region of the Big Island.
“I look forward to it,” he said on Friday.
Herkes is the chairman of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, an influential position with oversight responsibility over insurance, banking and utilities.
Posted in In Politics | 2 Comments »
Political Radar
February 18th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Herkes decision is a reasonable response to the gerrymandering which occurred with the Big Island House redistricting. Both his and Denny Coffman’s districts were moved out from underneath them in a way which might suggest someone on the Reapportionment Commission’s map-making committee, maybe someone from the opposing political party and with strong ties to the politics of the area, had it out for them. (Or am I being too cynical?)
“Constituent service” is a major part of a legislator’s job and a legislator builds up relationships with their constituents– and vice-versa– over the years as they work to address their concerns and secure funding to solve problems within their district. Many of Herkes’ old constituents have been excluded from his new House district, but are included in the larger senate district. So rather than start anew with a bunch of strangers, it makes sense to start with a core of his old supporters and build upon that secure base.
February 20th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Kolea, what you say makes complete sense except that the man looks really unwell and I more than expected him to decline another run for office, period.