Hawaii Gubernatorial Candidate Discusses His Nonprofit Agenda

The Chronicle this fall sent surveys to all major-party candidates in the 37 states that are holding gubernatorial races this year, asking how their proposed policies and programs would affect nonprofits in their states.

Between now and Election Day, we will post their responses on our Campaign 2010 Web page.

Today you can take a look at the reply from:

Neil Abercrombie, a former Democratic member of Congress who is running for governor of Hawaii. Mr. Abercrombie says Hawaii needs a new state office to focus on “innovation, community building, and relationship management between government and the nonprofit sector.”

This would replace the existing Office of Community Services, which he says is “buried in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.” The reconfigured office would work with the governor’s office and other relevant state agencies and advocate for nonprofits at the Legislature.

If you would like to help ensure that the candidates in your state respond to our survey—or have any information about how the governor’s race in your state could affect nonprofits—please contact Suzanne Perry at suzanne.perry@philanthropy.com or (202) 466-1228.