But now Fasi says he made a mistake. Asked at a news conference this week, Fasi admitted he should not have run for governor six years ago. I don't think so. Today Fasi, always a maverick, suffers the pain of being an outsider in his own political landscape. The campaigns funded with donations from people and companies involved in city business are gone.
Money is hard to come by.
When you are out, you are out. Fasi was elected mayor in 1968, '72, '76, '84, '88 and '92. He served 22 years, longer than anyone else in the history of Hawaii. During that time he perfected the game of politics. Fasi knew what called for a bombshell announcement, what issue needed only a tap and what could be safely ignored.