KEITH-AGARAN APPOINTED TO SERVE OUT HOUSE TERM OF LATE REP. NAKASONE

Governor Linda Lingle named Gil Keith-Agaran at Maui’s newest state Representative.  Keith-Agaran fills the 9^th District House seat vacated by the late Representative Bob Nakasone who passed away on December 7^th.  The Wailuku Attorney and partner with the law firm Takatani & Agaran, has worked at both the state and county government levels including roles as director of the county Department of Public Works from 2003 to 2005, and chair of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources between 2000 to 2002.  Other experience included work as the deputy of the BLNR from 1995 to 1998, and member of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve commission from 2000 to 2004.  Previous service also included work as director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer affairs.  In making the appointment, Governor Linda Lingle said, “I look forward to working with Rep. Keith-Agaran and his colleagues in both the House and Senate when the Legislature convenes next Wednesday as we address the many important issues facing our state and House District 9.”

The appointment comes just before the convening of the new legislative session, set to get underway on Wednesday.  The appointment is good for the remaining two years left on Nakasone’s term.

According to a law passed by the Legislature in 2006, the Governor was required to select a person from a list of three prospective candidates submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent.  The Democrat Party submitted the list of names to the Governor on December 23, 2008 and the Governor sought public comments on the three individuals through January 9, 2009.  The deadline to fill the vacancy was February 5, 2009 (60 days following the first day of when the vacancy occurred).

(Posted by Wendy Osher:  Thursday, January 15, 2009)