Lingle builds list for
Legislature vacancy

Gov. Linda Lingle is accepting nominations to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Sol Kahoohalahala officially resigned yesterday.

Kahoohalahala (D, Hana-Lanai-Molokai) just won office in November but quit to become executive director of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission.

"My highest goal for this process is for it to be transparent and that it be inclusive. By inclusive I meant for everyone in the public to have an opportunity to share with me their views who would be a good replacement," Lingle said.

According to state law, Lingle must name someone who is a member of the same party as the person who left the Legislature and who is a voter living in the same district as the person being replaced.

Noting that she has already "received a lot of letters, e-mail and telephone calls," Lingle is taking note of the nine people recommended by Democratic Party officials on Maui.

The Maui Democrats suggested by the Democratic Party are Mele Carroll, Scott Crawford, Ave Diaz, John Wayne Enriquez, Marc Hodges, Stacey Purdy, Frances Segundo, Mark Sheehan and Jonathan Starr.

Kimo Apana, Maui Democratic Party chairman, asked Lingle to appoint someone as soon as possible so that the district will have representation when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 19.

Noting that she had 60 days to name a replacement, Lingle said she would work quickly.

"I want people to know what the process will be and how many people we will interview and what the minimum qualifications will be.

"I hope not to take the whole 60 days because we want a person to get up and running for the Legislature," Lingle said.