As Civil Beat anticipated two months ago, the Hawaii state Senate has reorganized its leadership following Tuesday’s elections.
Donna Mercado Kim will remain president and Les Ihara will remain policy leader. But other top jobs have new faces:
Will Espero is vice president, replacing Ron Kouchi
Kalani English is majority leader, replacing Brickwood Galuteria
Josh Green is floor leader, replacing Espero
Jill Tokuda chairs Ways and Means, replacing David Ige
Gil Keith-Agaran chairs Judiciary and Labor, replacing Clayton Hee
Ige, of course, is the governor-elect while Hee lost the primary for lieutenant governor and is leaving the Senate. “Re-orgs,” as they are called, are all about certain leaders forming majority coalitions within the majority party; they signal clear winners and losers and are commonly done after elections.
Gil Kahele will be the Senate’s caucus leader. Other positions:
Majority Whip: Brian Taniguchi
Ways & Means Vice Chair: Ron Kouchi
Consumer Protection: Roz Baker
Hawaiian Affairs: Maile Shimabukuro
Education: Michelle Kidani
Health: Josh Green
Economic Development and Technology: Glenn Wakai
Water and Land: Laura Thielen
Tourism and International Affairs: Gil Kahele
Human Services and Housing: Suzanne Chun Oakland
Higher Education and the Arts: Brian Taniguchi
Government Operations: Donovan Dela Cruz
Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs: Will Espero
Energy and Environment: Mike Gabbard
Agriculture: Russell Ruderman
Transportation: Clarence Nishihara
Senate President Donna Kim speaks with a voter at the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center Candidates Fair on July 25.
Chad Blair is the Politics and Opinion Editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @chadblairCB.
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