Bunda will continue
in his role as Senate
president

Senate Democrats have announced Robert Bunda will return as Senate president for the upcoming legislative session.

Sen. Donna Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa) will also return as vice president, and Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) will remain the majority leader.

"We look forward to working with Gov. (Linda) Lingle, her administration and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in both the Senate and House of Representatives, on pressing issues facing our state," Bunda (D, Kaena-Wahiawa-Pupukea) said Friday.

Bunda said the Democratic majority was also looking forward to building on the accomplishments of the last session, including directing more resources toward education and crystal methamphetamine treatment and prevention.

Clayton Hee, a former Windward Oahu state representative and past chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, will serve as majority floor leader, replacing Cal Kawamoto.

Democrats soundly defeated on Tuesday the Lingle-led effort to even the balance of power in the Legislature, increasing their numbers in the House by five and maintaining their 20-5 advantage in the Senate.

In the House, Democrats unseated six GOP incumbents while dropping just one race. They now outnumber Republicans 41-10.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans also announced their leadership.

The GOP re-elected Fred Hemmings as the Senate minority leader and Bob Hogue as minority floor leader.

"Our agenda is clear: to offer the people of Hawaii an alternative to business as usual in this state," said Hemmings (R, Lanikai-Waimanalo). "We are prepared to work in a bipartisan manner."

Hogue (R, Kaneohe-Kailua) said he is looking forward to a "very open, candid session."

"The minority will take the unprecedented step of opening its caucus to the media and all ideas that are to be debated and will be debated on the floor," he said. "We hope that the majority will follow our lead."

The GOP also elected Gordon Trimble as minority policy leader, replacing Paul Whalen.

"The Republican minority will continue to speak out against special-interest legislation to advocate those policies which will truly promote the greater good for our residents," said Trimble (R, Downtown-Waikiki).

The Legislature opens Jan. 19.

The Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter is hailing this year's elections as a victory for the environment.

The organization said 20 of the 21 state legislative incumbents it endorsed won re-election. In addition, the majority of the endorsed challengers facing incumbents won.

"Most of these races offered clear distinctions between the candidates regarding their position on environmental protection. Simply put, voters value protecting our environment," said Lucienne De Naie, Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter chair.