Ige to Choose From 3 Names to Fill Big Island State Senate Seat
News Release from Hawai’i County Democratic Party, December 23, 2020
The 44 members of the Hawaiʻi County Democratic Party selection committee – comprised of the party’s precinct officers and district council officers who reside in Senate District 1 – have selected three names to send to Governor David Ige for his consideration to fill the Senate District 1 vacancy.
Those names are as follows:
Christopher Toshiro Todd, the State Representative for District 2, who has also worked as a football and basketball coach for Hilo students and as a manager for Hawaiʻi Paper Products
Maureen Nāmaka Rawlins, a Native Hawaiian community advocate and educator who has served as the past chairwoman of the Native Hawaiian Education Council and former Executive Director of ʻAha Pūnana Leo
Laura Acasio, a substitute teacher who has served in multiple leadership roles within the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and in nonprofits such as the Hilo Surfrider Foundation and Ka ʻUmeke Kaʻeo Public Charter School
The names have been formally transmitted to Gov. Ige. The Governor has approximately seven weeks to select one of these individuals to serve as the next Senator for Senate District 1.
WHT: Todd, Rawlins, Acacio finalists for Senate seat
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News Release from Hawai'i County Democratic Party, Dec 20, 2020
The nomination process is underway to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of State Senator Kai Kahele from Senate District 1 (Greater Hilo) in order to transition to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Hawai'i County Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i officially closed submittal of nominations at 6 p.m. Sat., Dec. 19, 2020. As determined by the Hawai'i Revised Statutes and Hawai'i Democratic Party state and county bylaws, nominations now have been vetted and seven candidates who have fulfilled prescribed legal requirements include:
• Laura Acasio
• Jennifer Kagiwada
• Amy Kalili
• Wilfred "Wil" Okabe
• Dennis "Fresh" Onishi
• Maureen Namaka Rawlins
• Christopher Toshiro Todd
The next step will be a virtual meeting of the respective officers of the Precinct Clubs and District Councils affected by the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Senator Kai Kahele of Senate District 1. This virtual meeting will be at 6 p.m., Wed., Dec. 23, 2020….
read … Full News Release
CB: Seven Democrats Apply To Replace Kahele At Legislature
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Democratic Party to Begin Process to Fill Kahele’s Senate District 1 Vacancy
News Release from Hawaii Democratic Party, December 16, 2020
Congressman-elect and current State Senator Kaialiʻi Kahele (District 1 – Hilo) officially announced today his resignation from the Hawaiʻi State Senate. Kahele, who was appointed in 2016 to fill the seat of his late father, Senator Gilbert Kahele, was elected on Nov. 3, 2020 to represent Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District.
During his tenure in the Hawaiʻi State Senate, Congressman-elect Kahele served as chair of the Senate Committee on Higher Education (2016 – 2018) and the Senate Committee on Water and Land (2018 – 2020). He also served as Majority Whip (2017 – 2018), Majority Floor Leader (2018 – 2020), Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs andwas a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
“It has been an honor to represent and serve the people of Hilo in the Hawaiʻi State Senate for the past four years,” said Congressman-elect Kahele. “As a member of Congress, I look forward to continue working with our State leaders to rebuild our economy and create a more resilient Hawaiʻi for future generations.”
Democratic Party officers from nine precincts in Senate District 1 will convene virtually on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. to identify three names that will be transmitted to Governor Ige for consideration. The Governor has sixty days to fill the vacancy.
As Congressman-Elect Kai Kahele has submitted a letter of resignation from the State Senate District 1 seat, the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi has begun the process to identify three prospective candidates to send to Governor David Y. Ige for his consideration.
According to HRS 17-3 (b)(3), the appointee shall be at the time of the appointment, and shall have been for at least six months immediately prior to the appointment, a member of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. Furthermore, the appointee shall, at the time of the appointment, be a resident of Senate District 1.
Interested candidates who wish to be considered and meet the qualifications above may obtain an application packet by emailing sd1vacancy2020@gmail.com. Applications must be received by 6 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.
Pursuant to the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Bylaws, Article IX, Section 5, the three nominees will be chosen by a 45-member selection body comprised of the officers of Precinct Clubs 01-07, 01-08, 01-09, 02-01, 02-02, 02-03, 02-04, 02-05, and 03-01, as well as the District Officers of House Districts 1, 2, and 3 who reside within Senate District 1.
The selection body will meet electronically on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. to identify three names to forward on to the Governor.
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi says it is committed to filling this vacancy in a “timely and expeditious way” to ensure that Senate District 1 will be represented well before the legislative session begins.
As such, the leadership of the Hawaiʻi County Democratic Party and the State Democratic Party intend to transmit the three chosen names to Governor Ige immediately upon the adjournment of the meeting to give him sufficient time to consider a replacement before the start of the 2021 legislative session.
HTH Dec 11: Replacing Kahele: Local Democrats prepare to fill Hilo Senate seat
HTH Dec 23: Big Island Dems to pick Kahele replacement candidates
HTH Dec 25: Todd, 2 political newcomers to vie for Kahele’s seat
CB: Gov. Ige will select a replacement for the congressman-elect.