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Ex-lawmaker Stegmaier
working for Akaka in D.C.

Former state Rep. David Stegmaier is now working as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.

Stegmaier, a 12-year Democratic legislator, did not seek re-election last year and moved his family to the East Coast to take care of his aging parents. A spokesman for Akaka said Stegmaier recently started work handling the senator's incoming and outgoing mail. It is a regular full-time staff job, with hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The former Hawaii Kai resident had said he and his family expect to return one day to Hawaii, where they have lived for the past 25 years.

DEMS LEND A HAND:

A dozen House Democrats and staff members spent Thursday evening cleaning, cooking and serving dinner to homeless guests at the Institute for Human Services. House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo) said representatives wanted a firsthand look at what IHS does, who their clientele is and why IHS needs money from the Legislature to continue its mission.

The visit was organized by state Rep. Brian Schatz (D, Makiki).

FARRINGTON BYPASS:

Plotting a Waianae Coast emergency route that could be used when Farrington Highway is blocked will be the topic of a 7 p.m. meeting March 7 at Nanakuli High School.

"We recognize the importance of this issue and agree that a solution is needed," said Mayor Jeremy Harris. "We appreciate the community input we have been receiving so far."

Separate meetings were held for residents of Nanakuli, Lualualei-Maile, Waianae and Makaha from November through January to discuss alternate routes to Farrington, the only thoroughfare for these Waianae Coast communities. Data from the sessions will be presented at the March 7 meeting.

Experts in agricultural
biotech to speak at Capitol

Hawaii and California specialists on agricultural biotechnology will present their views to the state Legislature from 8 to 9 a.m. March 15 in the state Capitol auditorium.

They will focus on educational and scientific perspectives of controversial issues such as genetically modified crops and food products opposed by activist groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

Andrew Hashimoto, new dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, will speak on "Agricultural Biotechnology in Hawaii."

Martina McGloughlin, director of the Biotechnology Program at the University of California-Davis and of the University of California systemwide Life Sciences Informatics Program, will discuss "Agricultural Biotechnology: Present Position, Future Perspective."

McGloughlin has written three books and many papers on biotechnology.

She serves on several international committees, including the World Trade Organization Panel on Technology and the United Nations Technology Discussion Panel on Sustainable Agriculture.

Hashimoto, a Hawaii native, joined UH-Manoa last October from Oregon State University, where he was vice provost for academic affairs.

He previously chaired that university's Department of Bioresource Engineering. His specialties are bioconversion processes, ethanol fuels, anaerobic fermentation and animal waste management.

As dean of the agriculture college, he will oversee continued development of agricultural biotechnology and sustainable agriculture in Hawaii.

WINNERS

Marie Y. Okamura: Nothing but praise for the career accountant and auditor nominated by Gov. Ben Cayetano last October to replace Ray Kamikawa as state tax director. The former taxation services administrator was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate last week.

Hawaii GOP: More money and power for Republicans as the party -- through chairwoman Linda Lingle -- has raised more than twice as much money as the Democrats over the past two years, said state campaign spending officials. House Republicans also struck a deal with House Democrats that allows them to debate bills recalled to the floor.

Hawaii residents: We're safer than most U.S. places, according to a state report that shows Hawaii's overall violent-crime rates for murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault between 1975 and 1999 were consistently below the comparable U.S. rates, except for one year, 1982.

LOSERS

Mazie Hirono: The lieutenant governor publicly opposed her boss when Gov. Ben Cayetano decided last summer the state will support Alabama's legal challenge to the Americans with Disabilities Act before the U.S. Supreme Court. But the governor is doing the bragging after the high court last week ruled in favor of Alabama, saying states may not be sued in federal court for money damages for discrimination in employment based on disability.

Teen-agers: Kids who ride skateboards or scooters are closer to wearing helmets under a measure now before the full Senate. The proposed law requires those 16 or younger to wear helmets when operating any type of scooter or skateboard.

Hawaii residents: Expectations of good fiscal times ahead are being tempered by the leading economic indicator for our economy, which dropped for the sixth consecutive time last November. State officials said that signals slower growth in the second half of 2001.

This feature by Richard Borreca runs Mondays throughout the legislative session.

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