GOVERNOR-ELECT IGE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF MIKE MCCARTNEY AS CHIEF OF STAFF

Applicants Encouraged to Submit Qualifications-Site Up after 5PM

News Release from Ige Campaign November 7, 2014

Governor-elect David Ige today announced that he will appoint Mike McCartney as the chief of staff for the State of Hawai‘i when he assumes office on December 1, 2014. McCartney is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), a position he has held since 2009.

“Mike is a proven leader with experience as president and CEO of the HTA, a state senator and appointed State department director, making him an outstanding choice to serve as the chief of staff in my administration.” said Governor-elect David Ige, “As my former colleague in the State Senate, I know Mike is a committed public servant who is dedicated to making Hawai‘i a better place for future generations. I am pleased that he has agreed to join my team.”

Born and raised in Kahalu‘u, O‘ahu, McCartney served for 10 years in the Hawai‘i State Senate, where he held prominent positions as the vice president, majority leader, education chair, labor chair and government operations chair. He also was appointed by Governor Ben Cayetano to serve in his cabinet as the director of the State Department of Human Resource Development. In addition, McCartney served as the executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, president and CEO of PBS Hawaii and chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

“This is an exciting time for our state, and I am honored to be asked by Governor-elect Ige to serve on his cabinet,” said McCartney. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help create a meaningful future for Hawai‘i and our keiki under Governor-elect Ige’s leadership. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Hawai‘i in my new role.”

McCartney has resigned his position at the HTA effective Nov. 21, 2014. He will assume his new position as chief of staff on December 1st and will be instrumental in the transition process.

Governor-elect David Ige and Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui are in search of 42 department heads, deputies, and other top officials.  After 5pm today, Friday, November 7, applications may be submitted at http://dhrd.hawaii.gov/gov-elect-ige

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Gov.-elect Ige chooses HTA's McCartney as his chief of staff

SA: Gov.-elect David Ige announced on Friday that Mike McCartney, the president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, will be his new chief of staff.

Ige and McCartney have been allies since they both served in the state Senate. McCartney is also a former executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and a former director of state human resource development....

Ige's transition team will be led by Keith Hiraoka, an attorney who was Ige's campaign manager.

AP: "The previous administration has gone through their first pass of the budget, so I will begin to review that and make an assessment," Ige said.

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read ... Ige's transition team

Civil Beat Reporter Clamors for Weed

CB: ...After the announcement, reporters bombarded the governor-elect with questions on various policy issues. Ige said Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is going to continue working from his Maui office but that they’re working on ways to cut costs.

Ige is starting the process of reviewing the state budget but hasn’t yet met with Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Ige’s campaign manager, Keith Hiraoka, is leading his transition team.

Ige had little to say about two controversial issues relating to genetically modified organisms and development. He said he is “not quite certain” of the details of Maui County’s new GMO farming moratorium, and said he “has no information” on a high-rise project that may be approved in Kakaako this month....

When asked another question about his top priorities once he takes office, Ige referred reporters to his 11-point action plan that he rolled out during his campaign. He also discouraged the suggestion that he would reinstate junior kindergarten.

The governor-elect is jetting off to Colorado next week to attend a National Governors Association conference for new governors. He laughed when a reporter suggested he check out how the state’s marijuana legalization is working out. During the campaign, Ige (disturbingly) said he had never smoked pot (leading some to wonder how he could possibly be a Democrat.)....

read ... Clamor