Today’s Woman in the Lens is Hawaii’s own Linda Lingle—former Governor of the state—currently running for the US Senate from Hawaii. Governor Lingle was the first woman, first person of Jewish ancestry, and the first Republican in 40 years to lead the Aloha State. Palladian View proudly presents this trailblazer who embodies the principle of “Building leaders of tomorrow by empowering women today.”
Governor Lingle came to Hawaii via St. Louis, Missouri and Southern California. After graduating cum laude with a journalism degree from California State University, Northridge, she relocated to Hawaii where she founded and edited the Moloka‘i Free Press community newspaper. Five years later, she was elected and served a decade on the Maui County Council, and then two terms as the Mayor of Maui.
Her accomplishments as a 2-term Governor (elected in 2002) are numerous and especially significant considering that of the 76 state representatives and senators in the Hawaii legislature, only 8 of them were Republican. While most would look at those odds as insurmountable, Governor Lingle led. She put aside the partisan bickering, presented her agenda to the legislature, and through her bully pulpit with the people, accomplished most of her agenda, including education reform, mental health services improvements, and affordable housing construction. She led her state through the most severe economic crisis in state history (both a major earthquake that struck the Island and the global economic collapse that hit tourist-dependent Hawaii extremely hard) by closing an almost $3 billion gap in state revenues without increasing taxes and while maintaining a “AA” bond rating, which was the state’s highest bond rating ever.
Governor Lingle was rewarded for her leadership by being the first governor in her state to win re-election with a majority in all 51 of Hawaii’s districts. It is no wonder her opponent is afraid to debate her.
Linda Lingle’s inspiration comes from her grandmother who taught her to “look for the good in everyone.” Her father calls her a “different kind of politician—honest leadership”.
Lingle’s assessment of the current situation in our nation’s Capitol? “You can’t keep spending what you don’t take in. I think Washington forgot that a long time ago.” Her tenure as governor projects a fiscal conservative with a pragmatic flair, reflective of her campaign slogan and life motto: “People First.”
To learn more about her campaign, or to donate, click here. Join her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lingle2012 or Twitter @Lingle2012.
Republican women comprise only 5% of the US Senate, and 2 of those senators will retire at the end of this term. It is crucial that we elect strong Republican women’s voices at all levels of government, but especially in the US Senate. Palladian View is honored to spotlight Governor Linda Lingle for US Senate.
