Hawai'i Democrats will choose this month between the president of Hawai'i's public television station and a party veteran to take on the state party's top job.

PBS-Hawaii President and CEO Mike McCartney and retired state employee Jimmy Toyama are seeking the Democratic chairman's position, which will be filled during the party's convention May 26-28.

Current chairman Brickwood Galuteria is not running for another term. Galuteria said he will likely announce whether he is running for lieutenant governor at the convention.

The Hawai'i Democrats' internal changes come as they are facing accusations from Republicans who claim Democrats in Hawai'i, Maine and Massachusetts illegally laundered campaign money to help support Rhode Island Senate candidate Matt Brown, who has now withdrawn from the race.

McCartney said he considered a campaign for governor or lieutenant governor before deciding to try his hand in the party leadership role. He has taken a leave of absence from the station and will step down next month.

"We have to create hope and not just say there is something wrong with the Republicans. We want to say what is good about Democrats," McCartney said.

Toyama, who has worked with the party for more than 20 years, was the O'ahu County chairman for the Democrats until he was defeated by former state Rep. Annelle Amaral in a vote last week.

"We need to accelerate and infuse the party with a deeper sense of activism," said Toyama.