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The presidential inauguration may be the political social event of the year, but isle Republicans are most concerned about keeping warm in the nation's capital. Coats, anyone?
Isle Republicans
prepare for chilly D.C.Miriam Hellreich, Hawaii GOP national committeewoman, said about 50 members, including most of the local delegation to the national convention plus Bush for President Committee members, will attend events leading up to the Jan. 20 swearing-in ceremony.
There will be a ball honoring the new first lady, Laura Bush, and for Vice President-elect Dick Cheney, and a special salute to youth, Hellreich said.
"Back when Reagan was sworn in, in1984, it was so cold, minus 25 degrees, I think, they had to cancel the parade," Hellreich noted. "So we aren't as concerned about gowns and all that as we are about borrowing some warm coats."
SKILLED DEPUTY: Calling her the youngest deputy director in the history of the state Transportation Department, Gov. Ben Cayetano recently named 31-year old Jadine Urasaki to fill the position vacated when Brian Minaai was named director of transportation.
"We're please to have secured a civil engineer who is sharp, progressive and possesses the latest technical skills of the next generation," Cayetano said.
Urasaki was a civil engineer in the highway division for the past three years. She was responsible for construction coordination. She is a former environmental engineer with the state health department.
HUSTED STEPS UP: Joan Husted has been named new executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Husted, who had been the teachers' union deputy executive director, succeeds George Yamamoto, who retired Dec. 31.
"With her years of experience as an educator and as chief negotiator for HSTA, Joan will provide the expertise and insight to move our organization forward toward the betterment of Hawaii's teaching profession," HSTA president Karen Ginoza said.
Husted is heading the HSTA's negotiating team in current contract talks with the state. An impasse has been declared. A report by a fact-finding panel is due today.
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