Slom Assumes Minority Leadership

PRESS RELEASE 11-8-2010

State Senator Sam Slom

After a long series of weekend State Capitol deliberations – sometimes contentious – behind open doors with the Republican Caucus, State Senator Sam Slom (R-8 – Hawaii Kai – Diamond Head) emerged as the new Senate Minority Leader.

He is also the Minority Floor Leader and the Minority Policy Leader. There are no Minority Republican Whips. There is only one Republican State Senator after the November 2 election: Senator Slom.

Slom will meet with new Senate President, Shan Tsutsui of Maui, tomorrow.

Though out-numbered 24-1 in the Senate, Slom pledged to energetically and honorably represent the more than 45% of voters supporting Republican candidates, traditional values, and to continue his strenuous opposition to new and increased taxes, government spending and debt for all voters.

Slom said his focus will be on job creation, improving Hawaii’s distressed economy and meaningful educational reforms. He will continue to advocate term limits.

He also announced he will shortly begin weekly press briefings on major legislation for the 2011 Session which begins January 19, 2011, add a new Senate Minority website, utilize live key committee hearing streaming and social media to explain pending bills, work with community volunteers to report on each of the 15 Senate committees and to introduce “Ask Your Senator” forums to provide the public with more information and transparency about bills that will affect their families, small businesses and standard of living.

House Minority Announce New Leaders

House Republicans selected Representative Gene Ward Ph.D. as Minority Leader and Representative Kymberly Pine will continue to serve as the Minority Floor Leader. Cynthia Thielen remains the Assistant Minority Leader, Corinne Ching will be the Assistant Minority Floor Leader and Barbara Marumoto will be the Minority Policy Leader. The three freshman George Fontaine, Aaron Johanson and Gil Riviere will serve as Whips.

Minority Leader Representative Gene Ward said, “Our new Caucus is excited and united and ready to do the people’s business, particularly regarding fiscal responsibility and job creation in the 2011 Session. We are very pleased to have grown 33 1/3 percent representing the first net-gain in the size of caucus in 10 years. The tide is changing in the House and we have added three exceptional new members in Aaron Johanson, George Fontaine, and Gil Riviere. It’s an honor to be elected the leader of the Minority Caucus and together we have the privilege and awesome responsibility of being the voice for over 40% of the people of Hawaii who voted last Tuesday.”

“I am so excited that I’ll be working with Gene Ward. He is an amazing leader; and the new freshman are so bright and bring so much to the table,” said Minority Floor Leader Representative Kymberly Pine

The leaders serve as the spokespersons for their party and manage the schedule of the caucus legislative and executive business. House Republicans will rally for an accountable government and better solutions for the challenges that face Hawaii’s citizens and visitors.

Republicans hold 8 seats in the 51-seat House of Representatives. The new leadership will determine what actions they will take to influencing policies and the gain of additional seats in the 2012 elections.

Shown: State Rep. Gene Ward and Kymberly Pine. Photo by Michele Van Hessen
The House Minority also maintains their own blog.
http://houseminority.wordpress.com/

Senate Majority Announce Leadership Positions

NOVEMBER 5, 2010: Maui State Senator Shan Tsutsui has been selected as the President of the State Senate, and will preside during the 26th Legislative Session. He succeeds outgoing Senate President Colleen Hanabusa who will resign her seat after being elected to Congress earlier this week.

Senator Sam Slom, now the only member of the minority party in the State Senate, looks forward to working with the new Senate President. He will be meeting with Senator Tsutsui next week.

State Senator Donna Mercado Kim will serve as Vice President of the State Senate and will chair the Tourism committee. Senator David Ige will chair the Ways & Means Committee and Senator Michelle Kidani will serve as his Vice Chair.

“I’m humbled by the confidence my colleagues have bestowed upon me. We are excited to work with the new Governor on moving Hawaii forward and improving the quality of life of our residents, now and in the future,” said Senator Shan Tsutsui.

The State Senate leadership and committee chairs include:

President	Shan Tsutsui
Vice President	Donna Mercado Kim
Ways & Means	David Ige
Ways & Means, Vice Chair	Michelle Kidani
Majority Leader	Brickwood Galuteria
Floor Leader	Les Ihara, Jr.
Caucus Leader	Ron Kouchi
Majority Whip	Suzanne Chun Oakland
Majority Whip	Will Espero
Judiciary and Labor	Clayton Hee
Commerce and Consumer Protection	Rosalyn Baker
Agriculture and Housing	Donovan Dela Cruz
Committee of Investigative Affairs	Donna Mercado Kim
Economic Development and Technology	Carol Fukunaga
Education	Jill Tokuda
Energy and Environment	Mike Gabbard
Hawaiian Affairs	Brickwood Galuteria
Health	Josh Green, M.D.
Human Services	Suzanne Chun Oakland
Public Safety and Military Affairs	Will Espero
Tourism	Donna Mercado Kim
Transportation and International Affairs	J. Kalani English
Water and Land	Russell Kokubun