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| Governor Neil Abercrombie is expected to select the next senator for State Senatorial District 2 in time for the opening of the new Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 19. |
SELECTION OF A NEW STATE SENATOR for this district will be closer to realization today as officers of the precincts in Senatorial District 2 narrow the field to three candidates to fill Russell Kokubun’s seat. The new senator will cover Ka`u, Puna and part of Hilo. Kokubun recently resigned when he was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to head the state Department of Agriculture.
The contenders will be interviewed today from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kea`au Hongwanji. Nine Democrats applied for the job. However, County Council member J Yoshimoto is out of the running since he stepped down before the interview. Other contenders are: state Rep. Faye Hanohono, a retired prison guard; Russell Ruderman, who owns Island Naturals food store; Gil Kahele, who is retired from Public Works at Pohakuloa Training Area and served as East Hawai`i campaign chair for Governor Abercrombie’s campaign. He recently emceed Abercrombie’s inauguration ceremonies in Pahala.
Anthony Marzi, unsuccessful candidate for 4th District House seat and a Database Administrator also applied. So did Gary Safarik, a communications business owner and former chair of the Hawai`i County Council. Beverly Jean Withington, a former state chair of the Democratic Party, long-time nurse and attorney in Kea`au, threw her hat in the ring. So did Wai`ohinu farmer, retired physician and Na`alehu Democratic precinct officer Richard Creagan – who has stepped down as a precinct officer. Also applying is Susan “Marie” Sanford, manager of the Abundant Life Natural Foods store in Hilo. Farmer and businessman Richard Ha, whose name was mentioned earlier, decided not to apply for the job.
Once a slate of three is chosen, it will be confirmed by Hawai`i Democratic Chair Dante Carpenter and passed to the governor. Abercrombie is expected to select the next senator in time for the opening of the new Legislature – a week from this Wednesday – on January 19.
Anthony Marzi, unsuccessful candidate for 4th District House seat and a Database Administrator also applied. So did Gary Safarik, a communications business owner and former chair of the Hawai`i County Council. Beverly Jean Withington, a former state chair of the Democratic Party, long-time nurse and attorney in Kea`au, threw her hat in the ring. So did Wai`ohinu farmer, retired physician and Na`alehu Democratic precinct officer Richard Creagan – who has stepped down as a precinct officer. Also applying is Susan “Marie” Sanford, manager of the Abundant Life Natural Foods store in Hilo. Farmer and businessman Richard Ha, whose name was mentioned earlier, decided not to apply for the job.
Once a slate of three is chosen, it will be confirmed by Hawai`i Democratic Chair Dante Carpenter and passed to the governor. Abercrombie is expected to select the next senator in time for the opening of the new Legislature – a week from this Wednesday – on January 19.
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| Former District 6 council member Guy Enriques |
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| District 6 Council member Brittany Smart |
COUNTY COUNCIL member Brittany Smart has announced a series of District 6 Matters talk story public meetings, the first one on Thursday, January 27 at 7 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, with an open discussion on changing the impact fee laws for developers and people building homes. The meeting will include an open discussion with Council member Pete Hoffman.
Her second talk story will be Wednesday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Yano Hall Community Center in Captain Cook. The third one will be back in Volcano on Thursday, February 10 at 7 p.m. in Cooper Center.
Smart came to Pahala yesterday for a talk story on this radio station and to look at proposed sites for a biodiesel processing plant that is proposed for Pahala. Later this week she plans to come back here to meet with school officials and former County Council member Guy Enriques regarding the proposal to build a gymnasium that would also serve as a disaster shelter in Pahala. The gym would be on the campus that includes both county and state land.
A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD MAN who lived in Pahala for a short time as a child has won a full scholarship to Alonzo King’s Ballet Company, which tours the world. Ka`u residents might remember Tunji Johnson as a member of a Rastafarian family of six kids who lived in Pahala for a short time. His mother was a psychologist, and his father known for his Rasta music. Tunji was the subject of a feature article by Peter Sur yesterday in the Hawai`i Tribune Herald, which reported that studying hip hop dance, ballet and contemporary movement in Hilo over the last three years led to this opportunity. He left for San Francisco yesterday.
Smart came to Pahala yesterday for a talk story on this radio station and to look at proposed sites for a biodiesel processing plant that is proposed for Pahala. Later this week she plans to come back here to meet with school officials and former County Council member Guy Enriques regarding the proposal to build a gymnasium that would also serve as a disaster shelter in Pahala. The gym would be on the campus that includes both county and state land.
A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD MAN who lived in Pahala for a short time as a child has won a full scholarship to Alonzo King’s Ballet Company, which tours the world. Ka`u residents might remember Tunji Johnson as a member of a Rastafarian family of six kids who lived in Pahala for a short time. His mother was a psychologist, and his father known for his Rasta music. Tunji was the subject of a feature article by Peter Sur yesterday in the Hawai`i Tribune Herald, which reported that studying hip hop dance, ballet and contemporary movement in Hilo over the last three years led to this opportunity. He left for San Francisco yesterday.
