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Iwase tagged for state
By Richard Borreca
labor appeals board
Star-BulletinDemocratic state Sen. Randy Iwase -- a veteran legislator, and a former state executive and deputy attorney general -- has been nominated to be chairman of the state Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.
The quasi-judicial three-person board hears appeals from state Labor Department rulings, primarily workers compensation cases.
The current chairman, former labor lawyer Frank Yap Jr., is nearing the end of his term, and state law says the chairman should be kept on unless there is serious community concern. Yap said he asked to be reappointed but Gov. Ben Cayetano last week told him no.
"He told me he didn't intend to retain me," Yap said. "He said he would appoint someone who shared his philosophy and balanced approach."
For his part, Iwase said he has been interested in labor law during his legislative career and was willing to accept the appointment.
Iwase has to be confirmed by the state Senate, but several senators said they didn't expect serious opposition to his confirmation.
Labor committee chairman Sen. Bob Nakata, who will hold the confirmation hearing, said he is reviewing the law.
He said he needs to learn more about Iwase's legal background and qualifications for the post, and the performance of the current chairman, to determine if an exception to the law should be made.
The law in question reads: "Because cumulative experience and continuity in office are essential to the proper handling of appeals under workers' compensation law and other labor laws, it is hereby declared to be in the public interest to continue board members in office as long as efficiency is demonstrated."
Iwase is up for re-election this year and had been considering not running, he said yesterday. He is a former city councilman, and has served as executive director of the Aloha Tower Commission and as a deputy attorney general.
The new position pays $77,966 a year, but Iwase would not be able to use his elected government experience for his government pension, according to state law.
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