The Hawaii agency whose mission is to preserve public confidence in state government by promoting “high ethical standards” among public servants has a new member.

Gov. David Ige appointed Dr. Robert Hong to fill a seat soon to be vacated by outgoing Commissioner Melinda Wood.

Hong is a clinical cardiologist and a professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, according to a press release Monday from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. He is set to retire July 1.

Ige also reappointed Wesley Fong to a new four-year term. Fong, an attorney, is an adjunct professor teaching law and ethics at the University of Hawaii, Shidler Business School.

Both appointments are effective July 1.

“It is a testament to the importance of ethics in the state of Hawaii that such qualified and reputable candidates are willing to serve and help ensure the highest standard of ethics for our state’s lawmakers, employees, and lobbyists,” said Robert Harris, executive director and general counsel of the ethics commission.

The commission is responsible for administering and enforcing the state ethics code and the state lobbyist law.

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