Energetic director leaves
Common Cause HawaiiLarry Meacham, of Common Cause Hawaii, a public watchdog group, has resigned as executive director.
According to Chairman Paul Berry, Meacham left his position because "he is just worn out."
He has been extremely busy and a particularly selfless man opposing conflicts of interest while pressing for openness in government, Berry added.
Board member Scott Foster said: "It is a great loss for Common Cause. He is the proverbial irreplaceable person."
Foster, along with other board members, commended Meacham's efforts in supporting campaign spending reform, ethics laws and public access to government.
Board members of the nonprofit organization will meet tomorrow to determine who will be the next executive director.
U.S. House bid poses no risk for legislators
The three state incumbents seeking to move to Capitol Hill are Democratic Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and Republican Reps. Barbara Marumoto and Chris Halford.A loss simply means that candidate returns to the state Legislature.
If one should win, the governor would appoint someone from that lawmaker's party to fill the seat until the next regularly scheduled election in 2004.
Of the three, Hanabusa, of Waianae, and Halford, of Maui, could have some advantage in name recognition as the only incumbent lawmakers who also live in the 2nd Congressional District, representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands.
Marumoto lives in and represents the Waialae-Kahala district on Oahu.
Federal candidates are not required to live in the district when running for office.
Voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution this month that requires candidates for state office to live in the district they are seeking to represent at the time they file for candidacy.
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