REPRESENTATIVE DIAMOND GARCIA ELECTED STATE CHAIR OF THE HAWAIʻI REPUBLICAN PARTY
News Release from Hawaii Republican Party, Feb 19, 2023
HONOLULU, HI – On Saturday, February 18, 2023, the Hawaiʻi Republican Party (HRP) State Committee, convened in a special meeting to elect a new State Chair to serve for the remainder of the term until May 6, 2023, when the HRP will hold their 2023 State Convention to elect new state executive officers for the next term.
Representative Diamond Garcia was elected new State Chair by a majority vote of the State Committee against one other nominee. Garcia served as Vice Chair for Candidate Recruitment and Training and then as Interim Chair from February 2, 2023 following the resignation of Lynn Finnegan who served as State Chair since December, 2021.
Many members expressed their support for Garcia, excited about his early success in the legislature giving Republicans a voice, and for being a young face of the Party, opening the doors for the next generation of HRP leaders and future legislators.
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REPRESENTATIVE DIAMOND GARCIA AFFIRMED AS INTERIM STATE CHAIR OF THE HAWAIʻI REPUBLICAN PARTY
News Release from Hawaii Republican Party, Feb 4, 2023
HONOLULU, HI – On Thursday, February 2, 2023, the Executive Committee of the Hawaiʻi Republican Party convened in a special meeting to affirm State House Representative Diamond Garcia as the Interim Chair following the resignation of Lynn Finnegan who served as State Chair since December, 2021. Representative Garcia will serve as Interim Chair until a special election is held by the State Committee for a permanent Chair to serve for the remainder of the term.
Finnegan resigned as State Chair on February 1, 2023. Representative Diamond Garcia was next in succession to fill the vacancy as a Vice Chairman and was endorsed by Finnegan, citing in her resignation letter the need to care for her aging parents and to resume consulting work.
Representative Garcia has a proven record of success in organizational leadership and has strong support from the Republican base to lead the Party as Interim Chair and legislator. He is committed to continue the momentum of electing more Republicans heading into the 2024 elections and understands the importance of a vibrant, two-party system in Hawaiʻi.
Lani Kaaa, who served as Vice Chair for Coordinated Campaigns, also resigned from her position on January 31, 2023 after working alongside Finnegan to successfully elect Republican candidates to office last November.
CB: Leadership Shakeup At The Hawaii Republican Party
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From: Mele Songsong
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2023 11:09 AM
Subject: Resignations & Emergency Meeting Notice
Please be advised that Lynn Finnegan has resigned as State Chair, effective today, February 1, 2023. In addition, Lani Kaaa has resigned as Vice Chair for Coordinated Campaigns, effective yesterday, January 31, 2023.
Resignation letters will be presented at the meeting scheduled below and later distributed to the State Committee for informational purposes per Rule 115. An official announcement will also be sent to the entire HRP membership and Press following this meeting. Until then, this notice shall be kept confidential.
Diamond Garcia, the next Vice Chair in the line of succession, has agreed to serve as Interim Chair, and as permanent Chair until the State Convention on May 6, 2023, upon a successful election by the State Committee.
Therefore, by the authority afforded me as State Secretary during such an event, and to ensure stability of the Party, I am calling for an Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 7pm by Zoom for the purpose of filling the vacancy of the Chair position and establishing Diamond Garcia as Interim Chair until such time an election by the State Committee is held for a permanent Chair….
Rules Chair Celyn Chong Kee and Parliamentarian Boyd Ready are cc'd in this notice to attend the meeting as guests to provide guidance as necessary.
Mahalo,
Mele Songsong Secretary Hawai'i Republican Party
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