Former state Senate Republican leader Michael Liu is now working in Washington, D.C., as a "community builder fellow" at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Michael Liu goes
(back) to WashingtonLiu will be working on HUD's national rural initiative and on multifamily housing projects in the Washington metro area, which includes parts of Maryland and Virginia.
"My goal is to be part of community development success stories that combine the strengths and leadership initiatives of the private sector with government," Liu says.
This is Liu's second assignment in Washington. From 1991 to 1993, he worked in the Bush administration as deputy undersecretary and assistant secretary of Agriculture.
Last year, Liu ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.
LEVIN FOR MAYOR?: The buzz on the Big Island and on Oahu is that Senate Ways and Means Co-Chairman Andrew Levin is planning to run for Hawaii County mayor next year, but he says he is now just "keeping his options open."
"I am flattered that I am being discussed in that context. I'm also very happy where I am," Levin says.
"I continue to do the standard fund-raising."
By law, Big Island Mayor Stephen Yamashiro is prohibited from running for a third consecutive four-year term.
By Mike Yuen, Star-Bulletin