Gov. Abercrombie Appoints Justin Woodson to State House

News Release from Office of Governor

HONOLULU –Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Justin Howard Woodson of Kahului to the state House of Representatives seat for District 9, a position left vacant by recently appointed state Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran. Woodson’s appointment is effective immediately.

“Justin’s experience as a small business owner and his familiarity with the state Legislature will ensure continued and strong representation for the residents of Maui,”Gov. Abercrombie said. 

Woodson owns and operates Woodson’s Eco Auto Wash in Kahului. Previously, he worked within the real estate industry for Realty Executives Oahu and Prudential Locations LLC, fulfilled analyst and clerk duties for the offices of state Reps. Tom Brower and Mele Carroll and Sen. Carol Fukunaga, and served as special assistant to the state chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Woodson is a former budget sub-committee member for the Maui Economic Opportunity Head Start program, former president of the Young Democrats of Hawaii, and former state coordinator for the College Democrats of Hawaii. He currently serves as vice present of The Gospel of the Alpha and Omega International and volunteers for the King’s Cathedral Maui Children’s Ministry.

Woodson earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University Fullerton.

He and his wife, Stacy, reside in Kahului with their four children.

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Related: Maui Dems Refuse to Release Names of House District 9 Nominees

Woodson: Abercrombie’s Carpetbagger, just 2 Years on Maui

MN: "I was surprised," Woodson said Tuesday afternoon. "I feel blessed, and I feel humbled. I'm just ready to do a lot of work and work very hard for this community."

Woodson, who was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, is a 2 1/2-year resident of Maui but is familiar with the Valley Isle much longer. He frequently came to the island to visit his former girlfriend and now wife, Stacy Suyat Woodson, who was born and raised on Maui.

Prior to moving to Maui, Woodson and his family spent seven years on Oahu, where he worked at the Legislature and as a Realtor and got involved with the Hawaii Democratic Party….

Joe Souki, who appears to have the votes to become state House speaker, said via phone from Oahu on Tuesday that he was "very happy" with Woodson's appointment, noting Woodson had paid his dues as a Democrat, had experience in the Legislature and had pledged his support to help Souki secure the state House speakership, which is expected to be confirmed this morning….

Woodson earned his bachelor's degree in political science from California State University Fullerton.

He and his wife, Stacy, have four children ranging from 1 to 8 years old.

Woodson said he has grown an emotional attachment to Maui through relations in the community such as school and other events, which he called a "blessing."

"I may not be from Maui, (but) I feel that I am of Maui," he said.

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