[HI Democrat Rep. Patsy] Mink's condition worsens; prognosis poor

Honolulu Star-Bulletin ^ | 9-27-02 | Craig Gima

[GraniteStateConservative]

Posted on: Friday, September 27, 2002 1:48 PM HST

Mink's condition worsens; prognosis poor

She may not be able to return to Congress for 108th session if re-elected

By Craig Gima
cGima@starbulletin.com

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U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink’s condition worsened today and prospects for her recovery are poor, the state Democratic Party said this afternoon in a news release. Mink, 74, has been in the intensive care unit of Straub Hospital since the beginning of the month. She has pneumonia after contracting chickenpox.

“Rep. Mink will not make promises to voters that she may not be able to keep. She will remain on the ballot, but her family wants voters to know that she will not assume office in the 108th Congress if she is not able to represent the 2nd District (rural Oahu-neighbor islands) with her customary vigor,” the release said.

A Democrat, Mink is serving her 12th -- and sixth consecutive -- term in the House. She served from 1965 to 1977 and returned in 1990. Mink also served as a Honolulu councilwoman and an assistant secretary of state in the Carter administration.

She is running for re-election against Republican state Sen. Bob McDermott after defeating Steve Tataii in the primary.

The statement was the first indication from the party, any Democratic official or the family that Mink was not expected to recover from her illness or that she might not be able to serve in Congress.

It came one day after the deadline for replacing her on the November election ballot. Now, her name will remain no matter what her condition.

Hawaii law allows a deceased candidate’s name to remain on the ballot, with provisions for a special election to fill the seat. While the governor has the power to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, vacant House seats are filled only by election, under state law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

[GraniteStateConservative]

Should the GOP lose the House by one vote (218-217, 217-217 since Mink won't be there to vote for Gephardt), this temporary vacancy could keep Hastert as Speaker for a brief period if he can get some Blue Dog like Sanford Bishop, Ralph M. Hall, Ken Lucas, Mike McIntyre, Bud Cramer , or Collin Peterson to break the tie and support him and give the GOP a caucusing majority of 218-217.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The GOP will keep control of the House.

Godspeed to Mink and her family. Her politics are atrocious, but I wish her soul and body a healing, and comfort to the family.

[ladyinred]

Agree, although I would totally disagree with her politics, I wish her and her family well. May God be with her.

[Highest Authority]

Not to worry, It's a well established fact that DemonRats can vote from the grave!

[Uff Da]

I wish her well, but I can't help but think this is a sympathy-getter, thus a vote-getter..........Why would she continue to run for office if she's in such poor health??

Didn't Wellstone of Minnesota announce he has a dibilitating health problem just after announcing he was going to run for another term, after having pledged only two terms?

[Jack Black]

I hope that if she runs from the grave the full force of law is brought to prevent and disallow her candidacy as legitimate, and force the runner up into office.