January 21, 2021 at 8:35 am
David Ige has appointed Laura Clint Acasio to the Hawaiʻi State Senate, District 1, which encompasses the greater Hilo area; a seat previously held by U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele, who was elected to U.S. Congress in November.
According to a press release from the Governorʻs Office, Acasio has been an educator since 1998, working as a teacher and long-term substitute for grades K-12 at 15.
Acasio has also served in various capacities with the Hawai‘i Democratic Party, including party chair from 2018-2020. She has also worked as a restoration volunteer for the Hilo Women’s Prison, restoration steward with Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, co-founder of the Hilo Boys and Girls Club Community, teen mentor and facilitator with the Nature Conservancy and member of the Surfrider Foundation.
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Martin delivers arguments for the prosecution during the murder trial of Kumulipo Sylva in October 2019. Martin has been appointed prosecuting attorney by Mayor Michael Victorino and must now be confirmed by the Maui County Council. The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin has been tapped to lead Maui County’s Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, which has been rocked by months of hearings and probes over a hostile working environment tied to its former leader.
Announced Wednesday afternoon, Martin’s appointment by Mayor Michael Victorino must receive Maui County Council approval.
mtanji@mauinews.com
The Hawaii Democratic Party put together mug and Kona coffee packages for anyone who wanted to enjoy a hot beverage while watching the inauguration in Washington D.C. on TV early Wednesday morning. Maui Democrats were saddened they couldnât travel to the nationâs capital to watch the events due to COVID-19 and heightened security following violence at the Capitol. Hawaii Democratic Party photo
Instead of joining a crowd of onlookers for the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C., Helen Nielsen “drank champagne and wore pearls” in her living room in Kaupo on Wednesday morning.
“This would have been the year we could have gone,” Nielsen said of the inauguration, where public participation was dampened by COVID-19 and the recent violence at the Capitol.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – NEWS RELEASE – Governor Ige appoints Hawai'i Island educator, community leader to fill vacant state Senate seat - US Politics Today einnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from einnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The next step for the Democratic Party is to narrow the list down to three candidates. Those names will be submitted to the Democratic State Party Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, and then to Gov. David Ige, who will make the final selection and appoint one of the three to fill the balance of Kahele’s term in the State Senate.
The 44 Democratic Party members who will vote will meet at 6 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 23, 2020. Each candidate will make a presentation. The meeting will be virtual, and streamed live on the Hawaii County Democratic Party Facebook page up until the point of voting.