Ed Case

Edward Espenett "Ed" Case was a Democrat in the U. S. House of Representatives serving the Second Congressional District of Hawaii from 2002 to 2007.

Background
Case was born on September 27, 1952 in Hilo on the island of Hawai'i. Case was educated at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 1975. In 1981, Case graduated from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco with a juris doctorate.

From 1981 to 1982, Case served as law clerk to Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justive William S. Richardson. From 1983 to 2002, Case worked at the law firm Carlsmith Ball in Honolulu where he became a partner in 1989, and served as managing partner from 1992 to 1994, when he was first elected to the Hawaii State house of Representatives. He resigned his partnership upon winning election to Congress. Case worked as Legislative Assistant to Congressman and then Senator Spark Matsunaga in Washington, D.C. from 1975 to 1978. In 1985, Case won his first election, to the Manoa Neighborhood Board of Honolulu. He became its chairman in 1987, a position he held until retirement from the board in 1989.

Case served four two-year terms in the Hawai'i State House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002. In 1999, after Case led an effort to replace the leadership of the State House, his Democratic peers elected him Majority Leader.

In 2002, Case was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary election in his attempt to become Governor of Hawai'i.

Congressional Career
U.S. Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink died on September 28, 2002, one week after the primary election, leaving her 107th Congress (2001-2002) seat vacant. She was subsequently posthumously reelected to the 108th Congress (2003-2004) in November of the same year. On November 30, 2002, Case was elected in a special election to fill her vacancy in the remaining weeks of the 107th Congress, gaining over 50% of the vote in a field of over forty. Case immediately ran for reelection in a second special election in early January 2003 for Mink's 108th Congress seat, going up against more than three dozen other candidates. Case won that election with 43 percent of the vote.

In 2004, Case was challenged by Republican Mike Gabbard, a social conservative focussed almost exclusively on anti-homosexual issues. Case won the election with 63% of the vote. 

2006 elections
Case announced a challenge to Sen. Daniel Akaka in the primary election to be held on September 23, 2006. Hawaii's other Representative and Senator - Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Sen. Daniel Inouye pledged their support to Sen. Akaka. Akaka won the primary and eventually retained his seat.

Democrats nominated Mazie Hirono and Republicans nominated Bob Hogue to contest the November 2006 election for his open House seat. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Committees in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Rural Development and Research
 * Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture - Ranking Minority Member
 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on Small Business
 * Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises Agriculture and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Tax Finance and Exports

Candidate data

 * 2006 Hawaii CD 2 Candidate List from VIS

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Mark Niesse, "Akaka Wins U.S. Senate Primary in Hawaii. ... Will Face Appointed GOP Candidate," Associated Press (ABC News), September 24, 2006.

Contact
DC Office: 115 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4906 Fax: 202-225-4987 Web Email Website

District Office - Hawai'i County: TollFree: 808-935-3756

District Office - Honolulu: 5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Building Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone: 808-541-1986 Fax: 808-538-0233

District Office - Island of Lana'i: TollFree: 808-565-7199

District Office - Island of Maui: TollFree: 808-242-1818

District Office - Island of Moloka'i: TollFree: 808-552-0160

District Office - Kaua'i County: TollFree: 808-245-1951