07-29-2010 - Hawaii Venture Capital Association Endorses Neil Abercrombie for Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2010

Contact:
Bill Spencer, HVCA President
808-225-3579

HAWAII VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ENDORSES NEIL ABERCROMBIE FOR GOVERNOR

(HONOLULU, HAWAII) - The Board of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association (HVCA) today will announce its endorsement of Neil Abercrombie for Governor.

Established in 1988, the HVCA represents the interests of Hawaii’s $3.5 billion technology industry. The association last week sponsored the first forum in which all three major candidates for governor spoke.

“Neil Abercrombie is the best choice if we are to heal from the divisiveness of the last eight years, make a recovery from the recession and diversify Hawaii’s economy,” said HVCA President Bill Spencer. “Neil Abercrombie brings the credibility of a true leader who listens to others while modeling hard work, thoughtfulness and empathy for the diversity that is Hawaii.”

Spencer noted it was the association’s first political endorsement.

“This vote of confidence from the Hawaii Venture Capital Association is a major milestone in our campaign to put Hawaii on a new course,” Abercrombie said. “HVCA is a business organization that is fighting for a new economy in Hawaii—one that relies on the creativity, capabilities, and character of our people—Hawaii’s greatest resource. HVCA’s trust in me, I believe, is a reflection of my trust in them and our ability to work together to create the high paying jobs that will keep our children and their children here at home in the islands.”

The announcement will be made at the downtown offices of prominent technology executive Henk Rogers, who studied computer science at the University of Hawaii and is perhaps best known for introducing the video game Tetris to the Western Hemisphere. Rogers founded a number of local technology firms, and the Blue Planet Foundation, an organization devoted to making Hawaii less dependent on imported oil.

"Neil Abercrombie shares a common, deep desire to move Hawaii towards a brighter future for our children," Rogers said. "Not only has he made a strong commitment to move Hawai'i towards energy independence, which will save us all billions of dollars spent yearly on buying fossil fuel, but Neil Abercrombie will help forge a brand new economic future that sustains our environment while creating a home grown alternative energy industry and creates local high paying high tech jobs for our high tech graduates today and for the generations to come."

Spencer said Abercrombie represents a solid balance of long-term and short-term solutions, with education being a top focus.

“His detailed education plan is simple and on target empowering school principals and encouraging public/private partnerships that will prepare our youth for a tech driven future,” Spencer said. “Neil Abercrombie has the ability to make Hawaii's technology and clean energy sectors a part of the global marketplace. He has proven he has solid understanding of the strength technology can bring to our economy.”

“We learned some hard lessons over the last eight years about taking a candidate’s word, which is why we have taken the time to study the candidates, their plans, and make an endorsement, the first we have ever made,” Spencer said.

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