The Hawaii County Democratic Party selection committee on Thursday named three possible candidates to fill the District 1 state Senate seat.
They are Christopher Toshiro Todd, the state representative for District 2; Maureen Namaka Rawlins, a Native Hawaiian community advocate and educator; and Laura Acasio, a substitute teacher who has served in leadership roles within the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
The names have been transmitted to Gov. David Ige, who now has seven and a half weeks to select one individual to take the seat of former state senator and now congressman-elect Kai Kahele.
“I’m proud that we’re sending three very qualified candidates to Governor Ige for his consideration,” said State Democratic Party Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam in a press release. “It’s remarkable that all three have strong backgrounds in education, which is a key issue not only for Senate District 1, but for the entire state as well.”
