Just because Brian Schatz narrowly survived a primary challenge from Colleen Hanabusa doesn’t mean he’s assured another two years in Washington.

Still, most pundits don’t expect Republican Cam Cavasso to be much of a threat to the Democrat incumbent in the general election.

Cavasso, a near perennial candidate, is giving the race his best shot, however.

Last week Cavasso said that FEMA’s rejection of Hawaii’s request for a disaster declaration was because “Senator Schatz has few leadership skills and little power in Washington.”

Cam Cavasso and Kimo Sutton at the GOP state convention in May.

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

“Where is Schatz in this?” said Cavasso in a press release. “A switched-on Senator would have been heading to Washington and the President to seek support and make sure FEMA declares the disaster immediately after the tropical storm hit and we became aware of the magnitude of the damage. Handing out water is just one of the things that could have been done by a Senator, but a Senator is so much more than that.”

Cavasso continued: “In this matter, particularly when almost 3 weeks later 1600 people are still without Hawaiian telecom service and people are still without power, Senator Schatz has failed the people of the Big Island.”

Schatz’s campaign declined to comment on Cavasso’s criticism.

Meanwhile, Schatz’s office recently announced an award of $1.9 million in federal funding to the Hawaiian Shores Community Association in Puna, which was battered by Tropical Storm Iselle.

Schatz’s office says that U.S. Department of Agriculture funding will help the homeowner’s association “improve and repair the community’s water system, ensuring safer, clean water and providing adequate water flow for fire protection.”

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is expected to appeal the FEMA rejection for a disaster declaration for Hawaii County due to the storm.