Stevens named to state House

The replacement for Galen Fox thinks her maritime experience will help Kakaako

As she enters her first job in public office, Anne V. Stevens says she is confident that her background in the maritime industry and as an office manager for the state senator who represents portions of the same district will benefit both herself and her new constituents.

Stevens was appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday to replace Republican Galen Fox, who resigned in December after it was learned that he was convicted in California of sexual battery, a misdemeanor, for groping a sleeping female passenger on an overnight flight to Los Angeles last year.

She is scheduled to be sworn in today. The 2006 legislative session begins tomorrow.

ANNE V. STEVENS Age: 45 Current job: Office manager for state Sen. Gordon Trimble (R, Downtown-Waikiki) Career: Twelve years active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard, including two years as operations officer at the Coast Guard base in Honolulu, two years as governmental affairs liaison in Washington, D.C., and one year as military aide to the secretary of transportation Education: Graduate of Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. Other: Serves on the board of advisers of the Hawaii Ocean Safety Team Source: Office of the Governor

"I have been at Sen. (Gordon) Trimble's office as his office manager and basically doing the constituent outreach work," said Stevens. "And I just feel that my background, in the maritime industry especially, would be a benefit to this district because there's three harbors within the district, and they need some attention."

Stevens has lived in Kakaako since 1993, and prior to working for Trimble (R, Downtown-Waikiki) served 12 years on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard.

She says one of her key issues will be the future of Kakaako. Alexander & Baldwin was selected to develop the area, but opponents are urging lawmakers to block the plans. A community coalition also has developed what it calls the "peoples' preferred plan" for the area.

"Where we are now is we've got to kind of bring those together and see if the citizens who have concerns can make their voices heard to A&B," Stevens said. "With some good dialogue going, I think we're going to come out with a good project."

Stevens is the third lawmaker appointed by Lingle since last year. Rep. Mele Carroll (D, Lanai-Molokai) was named to replace Sol Kahoohalahala at the start of last year's session.

The September appointment of Bev Harbin (D, Kakaako-Downtown) to replace longtime Democrat Ken Hiraki drew criticism from all sides after it was learned that Harbin did not tell Lingle of her defunct auto repair business shut down while owing the state $125,000 in back taxes and that she had a criminal record for three counts of passing bad checks, a misdemeanor.

Though Lingle and Democrats called on Harbin to resign, she refused, and the governor promised a more rigorous background check of future applicants.

"Whoever stepped forward had to have a fair amount of courage and a fair amount of conviction that they could do a good job knowing that their backgrounds were going to be looked into very, very closely," Stevens said. "I understand they did quite a good background check on me."

Although she has never run for office before, Stevens said she looks forward to campaigning for the term that expires this year.

House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise-Palolo Valley) welcomed Stevens to the Legislature.

"The beginning of the legislative session is a critical time for bill introduction, so it's important that the residents of the 23rd District be fully represented," Say said in a written statement. "We wish Rep. Stevens well and look forward to working with her in the months ahead."