Thursday, November 14, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Saturday, May 15, 2021
Maui Democrats Nominate Three for Senate Dist 7 Seat
By News Release @ 11:00 PM :: 4382 Views :: Democratic Party, Maui County

Democratic Party Selects Three Names to Send to Governor Ige for Senate District 7 Vacancy

News Release from Hawaii Democratic Party, May 15, 2021

The members of the Maui County Democratic Party’s Senate District 7 selection body – comprised of the party’s precinct officers and district council officers who reside in Senate District 7 – have selected three names to send to Governor Ige for his consideration to fill the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Senator J. Kalani English:

- Lynn DeCoite of Hoʻolehua, Molokaʻi, the current Representative for House District 13 and a small business owner, farmer and rancher;

- Yuki Lei Sugimura of Kula, Maui, the current County Council Member representing Upcountry Maui who has served as the Vice Chair of the Maui County Democratic Party; and

- Leo Caires of Kula, Maui, a community leader, agricultural business owner, and renewable energy executive.

These three names were chosen from a pool of six total applicants. These three names have been formally transmitted to Governor David Ige this afternoon via an electronic letter. The Governor now has until June 30 to select one of these individuals to serve as the next Senator for Senate District 7.

“These three candidates have deep roots in the district and I am confident that all of them would represent the ‘canoe district’ well. All three possess a small business background, which will help to guide Maui Nui and the entire state toward economic recovery,” said Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam.

“Today’s selection process embodied grassroots democracy in action,” said Jonathan Starr, Chair of the party’s District 13 Council. “This process showed the passion of Maui Democrats to be involved in the community. Democrats love to participate in this type of process. Every Maui Democrat I've known stays involved because of a passion for some positive cause, whether it's environment, jobs and quality of employment opportunities, healthcare, education, ag and food security, equality, etc. It's uplifting to hang with kindred but diverse spirits. Democrats successfully came together today, considered the issues facing our district, and identified the candidates whom we felt would best represent us.”

“It was an honor to be a part of this process and to serve as a co-chair alongside my counterpart Jonathan Starr. The selection process was transparent and open to all to view. The grassroots aloha spirit is alive and well within the Democratic Party,” said Stephen West, Vice Chair of the party’s District 12 Council.

The meeting, which was conducted over Zoom and broadcast over Facebook live, was held on Saturday morning at 10:00AM. 54 members of the selection body participated, and each was entitled to vote for up to three of the prospective candidates.

LINK: Video of Meeting

CB: Maui Democrats Narrow English Successor To Three Candidates

  *   *   *   *   *  

DEMOCRATIC PARTY RECEIVES SIX APPLICATIONS FOR SENATE DISTRICT 7 SEAT

News Release from Hawaii Democratic Party, May 14, 2021

The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi has received six applications from interested members to fill the vacant Senate District 7 seat, which was previously held by Senator J. Kalani English until his retirement on May 1, 2021. The Senate District 7 seat represents Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and Kaho‘olawe.

A meeting will be held tomorrow, Saturday, 5/15 at 10:00AM with the precinct and district officers. The meeting will be streamed live on Facebook.

As determined by the DPH Constitution, Article VIII, Section 9, DPH Bylaws Article IX, Sections 4 and 5, and the Party’s Procedures for Filling Legislative Mid-term Vacancies, the following candidates have submitted applications and met the requirements to be considered:

Leo Caires of Maui, a community leader, agricultural business owner, and renewable energy executive.

Lynn DeCoite of Molokaʻi, the current Representative for House District 13 and a small business owner, farmer and rancher.

Riki Hokama of Lānaʻi, a delegate to the 1978 Con-Con, and longtime County Council member who served as Budget Chair and Council Chairman of Maui.

Timothy Lara of Lānaʻi, a leader in sustainable tourism, nonprofit boardmember, and former Maui County Democratic Party Chair.

Walter Ritte of Molokaʻi, a former high school teacher, coach, OHA Trustee, and longtime community leader and advocate.

Yuki Lei Sugimura of Maui, the current Councilmember for Upcountry Maui who also previously served as the Vice Chair of the Maui County Democratic Party.

The candidates' statements may be viewed here: LINK

---30---

MN: Six interested in former state Sen. English’s seat

MN: Lawmakers, business owner get nods for state Senate seat

KHON: Race to fill the state Senate District 7 seat is on

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii