2 Lingle choices
face oppositionSens. Sakamoto and Kim
have concerns over Sultan and
Jim On becoming UH regentsA key senator is asking Gov. Linda Lingle to withdraw two of her six appointees to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.
After a Tuesday public hearing on the appointees, Sen. Norman Sakamoto, Education Committee chairman (D, Salt Lake-Foster Village), said he had concerns about two of the appointments, Shelton Jim On, an attorney and CPA, and Edward Sultan, a businessman.
Legislature Directory
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes
The two also face opposition from Sen. Donna Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa), who said yesterday she has been getting phone calls and e-mails about the two.
"I have serious concerns, and I am getting calls confirming those concerns," she said.
Kim declined to say what the specific concerns were, but said Sultan "didn't seem to have read anything."
"I am seriously concerned that I may not be able to support Jim On and Sultan," Kim said.
Lingle's office had no official reaction yesterday to Sakamoto's comments asking for the withdrawal of Jim On and Sultan; however, according to sources, Lingle told the Senate that she would not withdraw the nominations.
Asked about the concern expressed at the Tuesday confirmation hearing, Lingle said she had heard about it.
"We chose people who have outstanding credentials to serve and are people who are committed to the university system," Lingle said.
"They feel very strongly about the university, and we expect the senators to give them a fair hearing," Lingle added.
Sakamoto, in an interview, said he was "asking upstairs (Gov. Lingle) if they would consider finding another place for them to serve."
"We have expressed some concerns to the governor and (asked) whether she would consider maybe replacing them," Sakamoto said.
He declined to say what specific criticisms the senators on his committee had, adding only, "To be honest, with those two there were some concerns."
During the hearing, Kim sternly questioned Jim On after he declined to say what his positions were on UH issues, such as on the community colleges and total autonomy.
Jim On answered that he wanted to study university issues firsthand and agreed to return in a year to share his opinions about UH with the committee.
"You wouldn't want me to speculate," he told Kim.
Although he does not have a role in the confirmation process, House Speaker Calvin Say has already checked into the confirmation debate.
Earlier this month, Say (D, Palolo) told the Senate it might want to delay confirmation until the university could give the nominees a detailed orientation on UH operations.
Both Jim On and Sultan are strong Republican supporters and worked in Lingle's campaign last year.
Other gubernatorial nominees, whose nominations do not appear in danger, include Kitty Lagareta, chairwoman and CEO of Communications Pacific; Alvin Tanaka, a businessman; Byron Bender, former University of Hawaii Professional Assembly president; and Trent Kakuda, a UH law school student.
University of Hawaii
