Investigative Committee: Speaker Emeritus Say is Qualified to Hold Office

House residency hearing. Photo courtesy: Hawaiʻi House of Representatives – Majority.

By Maui Now Staff

A special House committee formed to investigate a residency challenge against Speaker Emeritus Calvin Say, issued a statement today saying Say is qualified to hold office.

The committee issued a statement this afternoon saying members found no “compelling evidence” that Speaker Emeritus Say did not meet the requisite qualifications to represent District 20, which includes St. Louis Heights, Pālolo, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise, and Kaimuki.

Calvin Say. Photo courtesy: Hawaiʻi House of Representatives – Majority.

Say issued the following statement in response to the news:

“The House special committee has done its due diligence and found, like other investigative bodies before it, that there is no basis for this challenge.  For me, I hope we can finally put this behind us and get on with the people’s business.  Throughout the nine years of these challenges, I have seen these matters put squarely in the hands of my constituents and they have seen fit to return me to office each time.  I look to focusing on matters of concern to my constituents and to all of the voters of Hawaiʻi,” said Say in response to the residency challenge.

The committee plans to issue a written report to the House detailing its basis for its final decision.  According to information released today by the House Majority, the report notes that “the bulk of documents submitted to the committee by both parties were previously reviewed by the Honolulu City Clerk’s office and the State Office of Elections in earlier unsuccessful challenges.”

That report and recommendation will be voted upon by the full House of Representatives.