Rep. Say repeats as House speaker

Senate Democrats reportedly are considering Hanabusa to succeed Bunda as president

House Democrats selected Rep. Calvin Say yesterday as House speaker, a position he has filled since 1998.

Say, a 30-year legislative veteran, was opposed by a group of younger House Democrats as he was two years ago.

"They were looking for some sort of transition to the next generation," Say (D, Palolo-St. Louis Heights) told reporters yesterday afternoon.

But Say said the three names offered as a possible replacement, Reps. Sylvia Luke (D, Pacific Heights-Punchbowl), K. Mark Takai (D, Newtown-Pearl City) and Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades), were unable to gather enough support.

Say said the Democratic caucus elected him with no other names put up in opposition.

"I have tried to build communication and consensus with the freshmen and sophomores," Say said.

During his tenure as speaker, Say saw the number of Republican House members first increase to 19 and then dwindle to eight.

"I don't believe there was any dissatisfaction with the management and administrative and political skills I have wielded and used," Say said.

In the Senate, the Democrats were locked in caucus meetings with no official statement as to who would be president of the Senate.

Sen. Bob Bunda (D, Wahiawa-Pupukea) had been president since 2000, but last week he reportedly released the senators backing his nomination and Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) was under consideration for the post.

In the House there also had been no decision on other leaders such as vice speaker or Finance Committee chairman.

Yesterday, Say said all the posts were up for discussion.

Asked about Rep. Dwight Takamine (D, Hawi-Hilo), who has been Finance Committee chairman since 1999, Say would only say that it "depends on where the caucus wants to go."

"All the committee chairs are open for discussion," Say told reporters.