DeCoite
Current and former state and county lawmakers and well-known community leaders are among a growing field of candidates likely to submit their names for consideration to fill the seat of recently retired state Sen. J. Kalani English.
The Democratic Party of Hawaii officially put out the call on Wednesday for “expressions of interest” from qualified candidates for the Senate District 7 seat that represents East Maui, Upcountry, Molokai and Lanai. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on May 13.
English, a lawmaker for nearly 25 years and Senate majority leader since 2014, retired on Saturday as he deals with the long-term effects of COVID-19.
LYNN DECOITE
Seeks Senate seat
Rep. Lynn DeCoite, Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English’s pick to take his place once he retires, is throwing her hat into the ring for English’s Senate District 7 seat, which covers a broad swath of East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
DeCoite is the first to publicly announce her intention to vie for the District 7 seat after English on Tuesday revealed plans to retire as he deals with the long-term effects of COVID-19.
“There is no doubt that Senator English leaves very big shoes to fill,” DeCoite said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our district needs someone who will foster the relationships that he has built and continue to ensure that resources are properly allocated to our rural communities.”
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.