From Hawaii Senate Democratic Caucus, November 7, 2012
Maui State Sen. Shan S. Tsutsui (Sen. District 5) has once again been elected as the President of the Senate and will preside during the 27th Hawaii State Legislature, which convenes Jan. 16, 2013.
Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (Sen. District 14) will also continue to serve as Senate Vice President and Chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism and Government Operations and Special Committee on Accountability.
Sen. David Ige (Sen. District 16) will continue as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, with Sen. Michelle Kidani (Sen. District 18) serving as his Vice Chair.
The Senate acted quickly to organize after the Nov. 6, 2012, General Election, with a primary goal of promoting an environment of cooperation and shared leadership and authority.
While much of leadership and committee chairmanships remained unchanged from the 26th Legislature, additional standing committees were established to provide greater scrutiny over important subject matter areas, as well as to provide a greater number of Senators the experience and authority to preside as committee chairs and vice chairs.
“The Senate would like to buck the trend across the country of faction-based and partisan politics, which has too often delayed or stalled progress on important initiatives. By sharing the power amongst more Senators, we hope to foster a more cooperative institution that can focus on and work towards the resolution of our most pressing issues,” Tsutsui said.
“We are excited to have reached agreement so quickly. This will allow us to focus our attention on the issues and begin preparations for the 2013 session,” Ige said.
Complete listing of Senate Leadership and Committee Chairmanships:
President: Shan S. Tsutsui
Vice President: Donna Mercado Kim
Majority Leader: Brickwood Galuteria
Ways and Means, Chair: David Ige
Ways and Means, Vice Chair: Michelle Kidani
Majority Floor Leader: Will Espero
Majority Caucus Leader: Ron Kouchi
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Whip: Gil Kahele
Majority Whip: Jill Tokuda
Judiciary and Labor, Chair: Clayton Hee
Commerce and Consumer Protection, Chair: Roz Baker
Agriculture, Chair: Clarence Nishihara
Arts and Technology, Chair: Glenn Wakai
Economic Development and Housing, Chair: Donovan Dela Cruz
Energy and Environment, Chair: Mike Gabbard
Education, Chair: Jill Tokuda
Hawaiian Affairs, Chair: Brickwood Galuteria
Health, Chair: Josh Green, M.D.
Higher Education, Chair: Brian Taniguchi
Human Services, Chair: Suzanne Chun Oakland
Public Safety and Military Affairs, Chair: Will Espero
Special Committee on Accountability, Chair: Donna Mercado Kim
Tourism and Government Operations, Chair: Donna Mercado Kim
Transportation & International Affairs, Chair: J. Kalani English
Water and Land, Chair: Malama Solomon
27th Hawaii State Legislature will convene on January 16, 2013.