When Republican Linda Lingle decisively defeated former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono in 2002, for the first time in 40 years the Democrats no longer controlled the governorship.

Although former Gov. John Waihee said the state was merely entering "an interlude" where the Democrats were not in power for awhile, others recognized that the Democratic Party needed to remake itself after years of corruption, cronyism and stagnant leadership.

The public definitely agreed with Lingle's call for change.

With the 2006 elections fast approaching, Democrats are still desperately searching for a viable candidate to challenge Lingle.

For years, Democratic campaigns resembled the "Tortoise and Hare" Aesop fable: For a long time only fairly low-key activities occur, then weeks before election day, they run a frantic sprint. While this strategy may have worked in the past, today's voters are far less loyal and no longer willing to automatically check off the Democrat ballot column. And a revived — and well-funded — Republican Party, employing sophisticated turn-out-the-vote techniques, understands that it's not the flashy, but the slow and steady, that ultimately wins the race.

Hawai'i's Democrats have taken a few good initial steps in setting up a professional campaign organization, but they are still floundering. Just like on the national level, the same old party insiders remain in control. They still control money and positions. The unions, with their own private agendas, also play a kingmaker role.

Only U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie with his multiple connections has the muscle to knock the heads that it takes, and access to resources, to put together a modern campaign machine. And he's already said he won't seek the governor's seat.

The public in general as well as disaffected Democratic activists are looking for tangible results from their leaders, not more flowery talk and generic promises. Given the most recent national test results showing Hawai'i's public school students still ranking near the bottom in reading and math, it's hard to take serious the Democrats' claims that they are truly "education reformers."

The party's failure to proactively explain the gas cap bill, which has a logical rationale, to the public has allowed the Republicans free rein to attack the majority party as devoid of common sense. The implementation of the bottle recycling law is so flawed that even boosters have to be apologetic.

Repeated wrangling over budgets seems more evidence of a body endlessly stuck in special-interest turf battles and political timidity. The public is looking for legislators capable of solving commonly recognized problems, not more excuses and half-steps.

Democrats need to build credibility on issues moderates within both parties and Democratic activists care about. That means enacting flagship programs effectively dealing with healthcare, affordable housing, the environment, transportation and genuine campaign spending reform. They must show they are innovators, not just captive agents of powerful special interests.

Part of the reason Mazie Hirono lost in 2002 was the defection of the Democratic traditional base. Old-timers did not cast their votes, and many liberal reformers disaffected from a party dominated by an old-boy network either sat on their hands or voted for Lingle, who seemed destined to at least shake up the status quo.

These base voters need to be drawn back into a truly reformed party with a solid track record. The Republicans are likely to run attractive candidates similar to new GOP House leader Lynn Finnegan, current House members Kymberly Pine and Corinne Ching, or Charles Djou, Honolulu City Council member and former state representative.

Though not the ideal candidate, only Abercrombie would have had the ability to draw together old-time Democrats, labor leaders and Howard Dean/Dennis Kucinich-type liberals. With his extensive knowledge of the legislative process, the backing of Sen. Daniel Inouye, access to Mainland funding sources, and a cooperative majority in the Legislature, Abercrombie could have been a formidable force in reviving the fortunes of Hawai'i's Democratic Party again.

Since none of the other potential candidates mentioned in the press come anywhere near possessing these political qualifications, it looks as if the Democrats will continue to muddle through.

Ira Rohter is a professor of political science at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.