The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) unanimously endorsed Colleen Hanabasa as governor. The announcement was made Monday at the SHOPO Honolulu Chapter Main Office Hall, recognizing Hanabusa’s strong stance on law enforcement and understanding of labor law.
“We feel Colleen will bring strength, trust and confidence back to the governor’s office,” said SHOPO President Malcolm F. Lutu. “Colleen is a clear, tough-minded ally in enforcing the law and working cooperatively to preserve peace and a safe environment for the people of Hawai’i, and she has proven her willingness to stand up for law enforcement in support of our mission to serve with integrity and professionalism.
“A key factor in SHOPO’s unanimous endorsement was Colleen’s deep understanding of labor law, including the case of Janus vs. AFSCME, currently before the Supreme Court. The case could significantly change the workplace for public employees across the nation by restricting the freedom of working people to join together within strong unions. It is important that our state leaders understand and have the capacity to work proactively to protect collective bargaining rights in government for all employees who benefit from union representation.”
“Though we may not agree on everything, the most important thing that I believe we agree on is that they hear because they are on the streets,” said Hanabusa. “They hear the concerns of the people, so it is incumbent upon me to listen to what they have to say.”
Hanabusa’s top opponent is incumbent Governor David Ige.
