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Candidates prepare for governor’s electionBy: Kari Valtaoja Date Posted: 1998-10-18 The incumbent Okinawa Governor Masahide Ota, 73, will then announce his intention to seek a third term in the office, for which he will be challenged by Keiichi Inamine, 65, the former chairman of Ryukyu Oil Co. In preparing for the official announcement, Governor Ota and his backers held a rally at the Naha City Civil Hall, Sunday. At the really, Ota, surrounded by people from his backing group, declared that his intention is to lead Okinawa into next century by making it a peaceful island where young generations can make their dreams come true in peace and harmony. On the same day, Inamine had his rally at Naha’s Loisir hotel. In his speech, Inamine stressed the practical need to do something, not just talk of dreams. The main focus of the election is the settlement of the MCAS Futenma relocation issue and, to a lesser degree, the transfer of the Naha Military Port to a new location in Urasoe City. Both of these issues affect greatly the prefecture’s relations with the central government and future economic stimulus packages needed to boost the prefecture’s economy and reduce the record high unemployment in the prefecture. On the heliport issue, Ota has made his position clear enough. He wants the relocate the heliport outside the prefecture, or possibly in another country. "In the best case, the MCAS Futenma and all of the U.S. Marines should be transferred out from Okinawa," he says. On economic matters, he would like to develop Okinawa into a "peaceful, international community with its economy based on the development of the multi-media and tourism." Inamine in his turn supports the relocation within the prefecture, although not necessary the floating heliport plan the central government favors. He sees the economic benefits from such a move as vital for jump-starting the local economy. "Once the economy gets moving, I would like to rely on venture businesses as the backbone of the future development," Inamine said. |
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