Subject: Gov of Hawaii
I was not aware the governor of Hawaii was a woman and Jewish, were you?
She makes time for her scheduler, her cabinet and her closest advisers, of
course. but every Monday morning, Gov. Linda Lingle sits down to a meeting
unlike any other during the week.
It's with her rabbi.
Lingle's gubernatorial victory last November made her a pioneer in many
ways.
She is the first Republican to govern Hawaii in 40 years and the first
woman ever.
And she's the first Jewish governor there and only the second female
Jewish governor in U.S. history.
Lingle is hesitant to be labeled only by her religion, but she is quick to
say her faith helps define her. Judaism is a facet of Lingle's
identity
that she says shapes her leadership perhaps more than being a woman or a
Republican.
"Anyone who was raised in a Jewish family, I think, would feel the same
way," Lingle said.
Lingle's religion was never an issue during her campaign, and it seldom
garners any attention now.
At her inauguration, a rabbi gave an invocation, but so did a number of
Christian leaders.
Lingle attended a public menorah-lighting during Hanukkah and last April
took part in a Passover Seder at the governor's mansion.
On Fridays, a rabbi arrives at Lingle's office with fresh-baked challah
bread for Shabbat.
And in the entryway to the governor's home, a mezuzah has been affixed in
the doorway.
"She handles it the way Linda Lingle handles most things," said Neil
Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii . "She
doesn't make a big thing out of it, she doesn't wear it on her
sleeve."
It's a similar public approach to that of the nation's only other sitting
Jewish governor - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
Fewer than 20 Jews have been elected their state's chief executive since
David Emanuel won Georgia 's race in 1801.
Some, like Idaho 's Moses Alexander who helped establish Idaho 's first
synagogue after taking office in 1915, have particularly bolstered their
faith's community.
Lingle has no similar goal for Hawaii 's Jews - who make up fewer than 1
percent of the state's residents.
She said raising the profile of her faith is "not something conscious that
I'd like to set out to do."
Lingle grew up in St. Louis , where she attended services and Sunday
school,
saving her dimes to plant trees in Israel .
Her family later moved to California , and after college, Lingle moved to
Hawaii
She eventually became a councilwoman, then mayor in Maui
County
She narrowly lost a gubernatorial bid in 1998, but when she ran again four
years later, backed by the bigges
t campaign fund in state history, Lingle
emerged a winner.
Her victory ended four decades of virtual one-party rule in Hawaii by the
Democrats, who were plagued by a slow economy, declining state tax
revenue,
weakened union political clout and a string of corruption scandals.
Lingle promised to improve public education and to restore trust in
government.
And while she probably could have won without the extra help, she also
gained the backing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as well
as Jews in California , New York and Florida .
Even the Jerusalem Post featured her in a story.
"I think she sets the example for so many groups that are
underrepresented," said Laura Stein, a lawyer who supported Lingle's
candidacy.
"She's like three for one."
Lingle's moderate political stance helps in
her
appeal to a group that typically votes Democratic.
She supports abortion rights and opposes capital punishment.
But even Jews who find themselves at odds with the governor's political
views say they take some pride in Lingle's rise.
"It demonstrates that Hawaii will continue its tradition of tolerance and
inclusiveness," said Democratic state Rep. Brian Schatz. "For that, I
think we all were proud."
Grand Reopening. ...
Posts
