Gov. Linda Lingle says she wants to overhaul two state departments and also continue her campaign to get more Republicans in the Legislature. Gov aims to revamp
business and public
safety departmentsBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
In a speech to the Hawaii Publishers Association at the Hilton Hawaiian Village yesterday, Lingle said she plans to announce a new director for the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism tomorrow and wants him to revamp the department.
Lingle said the other department marked for change is Public Safety, which she wants split into two departments: public safety and a sheriff's office.
She said her work in reforming state government will pay off in helping Hawaii's economy.
"The mission will be to focus the department to support existing business, expand existing business and attract new businesses," she said.
The governor also said it is false to think that the state's budget has been trimmed to its limit, noting that she is looking at moving money from state special funds to the general fund.
Funds such as the Hurricane Relief Fund that were created for a specific purpose should remain, she said, but others, such as loan funds that haven't made a loan in years, should be scrapped.
While reforming state departments, Lingle is also looking to get more Republicans elected in the 2004 elections.
"We want to be active on the legislative level," she said.
"It will be an advantage to have a governor who can go out in the community and talk about issues and certain candidates and give the public a chance to learn something about that candidate," Lingle said in describing how she plans to help get more Republicans elected.
Lingle also said it will be an advantage to have a governor that can showcase state executives as potential office-holders.
"When you appoint people it gives you a chance to see how they handle stress and how they do," she said.
"So I think that people serving as directors or deputy directors are in a good position if they want to run," Lingle said.
For example, Micah Kane, former executive director of the state Republican Party, has been appointed as director of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Stan Koki, former state senator and unsuccessful GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, was selected to supervise state boards and commissions.
State of Hawaii
