Governor Names David O’Neal and Ruth Tschumy to State Ethics Commission

News Release from Office of the Governor  August 26, 2013

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointments of David O’Neal of Waipahu and Ruth D. Tschumy of Honolulu to the State Ethics Commission, effective immediately.

“David is a respected and dedicated leader in the community, and Ruth has likewise contributed to our state as an educator, writer, and active member of many nonprofit boards and state task forces,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “They possess the keen intellect and integrity required of ethics commissioners as they guide our state’s officials, employees and citizenry on ethics policies.”

David O’Neal, a member of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board since 2010, is the general manager of the Mililani Town Association, which serves 16,000 households. Previously, he started, owned and operated Shop and Ship Hawaii LLC, served as president of Healthcare Director Partners LLC from 2001 to 2008, and was the owner/partner of Hawaii Dental Partners / Akamai Dental from 2001 to 2011. As a volunteer, he has served as vice president of the Waipahu Community Foundation since 2009 and a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and the School Community Council of the Kaleiopuu Elementary School.

O’Neal earned a bachelor’s degree in health administration with a minor in accounting from the University of Hawaii at West Oahu.

Ruth D. Tschumy has served as chair of the State of Hawaii Charter School Review Panel and president of the Mediation Center of the Pacific. A former educator, administrator, mediator and consultant, she is well known for the education columns she wrote for the former Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser. Tschumy has provided consultation services to schools and nonprofit organizations, including the Hawaii Educational Policy Center, the Honolulu Academy (now Museum) of Arts, the Hawaii Theatre Center, and numerous schools and educational associations such as the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Tschumy earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was the recipient of the Klingenstein Fellowship at Teachers College, Columbia University.

The State Ethics Commission administers and enforces State of Hawaii governmental ethics and lobbying laws. The commission’s duties include issuing advisory opinions, investigating and considering charges of alleged violations of the ethics and lobbying laws, and educating state government officials and employees and the public on matters relating to ethics in government.

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