CAC presents finalists for interim appointments to the UH Board of Regents

News Release from UH System, September 16, 2014

The Candidate Advisory Council (CAC) for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents has presented a list of candidates to Governor Neil Abercrombie to fill the following seats for interim appointments, with the duration of appointments subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate.

City and County of Honolulu (for a term to expire on June 30, 2017)

• Simeon R. Acoba, Jr.
• Peter S. Adler
• Maralyn A. Kurshals
• Michael T. McEnerney
• Russel S. Nagata

Hawaiʻi County (for a term to expire on June 30, 2016)

• Wayne S. Higaki
• Peter S. Hoffmann
• Roy A. Vitousek III

Kauaʻi County (for a term to expire on June 30, 2017)

• Dileep G. Bal
• David Iha
• Klaus Keil

Maui County (for a term to expire on June 30, 2015)

• Sherrilee K. Dodson
• Anders F. Lyons
• Helen F. Nielsen

The Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Hawaiʻi and consists of fifteen (15) members. Representation includes seven (7) from the City and County of Honolulu; two (2) from Hawaiʻi County; two (2) from Maui County; one (1) from Kauaʻi County; two (2) At Large; and one (1) University of Hawaiʻi student.

CAC was created after the passage of the Hawaiʻi Board of Regents Candidates Act, a 2006 legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. Hawaiʻi voters overwhelmingly supported requiring the governor to select Board of Regents candidates from a pool of qualified candidates who were screened and proposed by CAC.

All candidate lists are compiled only after the CAC completes its comprehensive review and selection process, which is solely and exclusively merit-based. The council adheres strictly to procedures that are set forth in either state statutes or the council’s administrative rules.

CAC began this recruitment in early July of this year due to the resignations of the regents who had filled these seats. Council members personally recruited candidates and contacted and encouraged government, business and community leaders to nominate regent candidates. The council placed print advertisements and issued news releases encouraging applications.

CAC Chairman L. Thomas Ramsey expressed his appreciation to the many individuals who applied during this recruitment period.

Applications will still be accepted for one (1) City and County of Honolulu seat and one (1) Maui County seat for 5-year appointments to begin July 1, 2015. The deadline for receipt of applications for these two seats is October 31, 2014.

Members of the Board of Regents as well as CAC serve voluntarily and are not paid.