Say likely
to be named
House speaker

Current Speaker Joe Souki
has said he will support Say
and may nominate him
as his successor

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

House Finance Chairman Calvin Say, who was a bus boy when he began his legislative career 22 years ago, is expected to be selected by his fellow Democrats as House speaker during a majority caucus tomorrow.

That's the sentiment of House Democrats who were contacted by the Star-Bulletin and who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Democrats, who control 39 of the House's 51 seats, agreed to a self-imposed gag order during a majority caucus Tuesday.

They said the only member who would speak was Rep. Joe Souki (D, Wailuku), since he still remains speaker. Souki could not be reached for comment this morning.

Souki and Say (D, Palolo), longtime friends and political allies, were to be candidates for speaker in an open-ballot election during tomorrow's caucus.

But Souki has told his backers that he is releasing them from their pledges of support since Say, now a businessman, has the votes for the speakership and he himself will support Say, according to a veteran House member.

Souki may even nominate Say as his successor, the Democrat said.

Say has met with Souki and they agreed on the change in leadership for the sake of unity and to ensure the smooth running of the House, several veteran House Democrats said.

A sign that a change is immiment occurred last night when one of Souki's aides was seen removing his files from the speaker's office.

A House committee chairman said Rep. Ed Case (D, Manoa), a critic of Souki's leadership, was one of the first to propose Say for the top House position because Say's appeal cuts across "all the lines and factions."

Rep. Nathan Suzuki (D, Moanalua Valley), Say's taxation subcommittee chairman, said he could comment on events before the imposition of the majority caucus' gag order.

He said that during a meeting with House dissidents on Monday, "Cal stated there would be no horse trading" -- that he wouldn't offer chairmanships or other perks in return for their support.

"That position could have hurt him," Suzuki said. "That showed a lot of leadership and courage."

While Say, who could not be reached this morning, hasn't revealed who he might tab for leadership and chairmanship posts, several names have emerged, Democrats said.

For majority leader, the names mentioned are current Majority Leader Tom Okamura (D, Aiea), current Vice Speaker Paul Oshiro (D, Ewa Beach) and Reps. Dennis Arakaki (D, Kalihi Valley) and Dwight Takamine (D, Hilo).

For Finance Committee chair, the panel's Vice Chairwoman, Bertha Kawakami (D, Hanapepe), and Suzuki have been mentioned.

For the Judiciary panel, whose chairman, Terrace Tom, lost a bid for the state Senate, Majority Floor Leader Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa) and Case have been the names tossed about.