Labor attorney named to appeals board

Gubernatorial hopeful Randal Iwase creates one of two vacancies filled by the governor

Gov. Linda Lingle has nominated labor attorney Roland Thom to be the next chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, replacing Randal Iwase, who will resign May 4 to run as a Democrat for governor.

Lingle also named to the board former state Rep. David Pendleton, an attorney who is currently the governor's senior policy analyst working on legislation related to labor and industrial relations, taxation, budget and finance, and Hawaiian homelands.

Both full-time, paid posts on the three-member board are subject to state Senate confirmation. The board handles hearings and trials on labor and workers' compensation issues and other matters before the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Thom will serve out the remainder of Iwase's 10-year term, which ends June 20, 2010, while Pendleton's term will run from July 1 through June 30, 2016. Pendleton must resign from his position with the administration upon Senate confirmation.

"Both Roland and David have strong backgrounds in labor law and extensive backgrounds in workers' compensation matters," the governor said.

Thom is one of the founders of the Char Hamilton Campbell & Thom law firm, which he has been with since 1980. He specializes in workers' compensation cases and has focused on other labor-related cases.

Pendleton served eight years in the state House, representing Kailua and Kaneohe. He served as floor leader, whip and assistant leader of the Republican minority.

Pendleton's private law practice prior to entering public office also focused on workers' compensation issues.