Lawmakers Make Three Key Appointments in Special Joint Session

Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi was approved as the director of LRB, Robin Matsunaga as the ombudsman, and Leslie Kondo as legislative auditor. Photo courtesy: Hawaiʻi State Legislature.

During a special joint session today, the state House and Senate voted to approve three key legislative appointments, including the ombudsman, the director of the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) and the legislative auditor. Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi was approved as the director of LRB, Robin Matsunaga as the ombudsman, and Leslie Kondo as legislative auditor.

Robin Matsunaga has been director of the Office of Ombudsman since 1998 and was reappointed to a six-year term. The ombudsman is an officer of the Legislature who investigates complaints from the public about actions by state and county executive-branch agencies.  Prior to his appointment, Matsunaga worked for 12 years in the Legislature, starting as a budget analyst in the House Finance Committee, and later as chief of staff for Speaker Joe Souki of Maui.

Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi has been acting director for LRB since 2010. She began her career with the bureau as a research attorney, and was appointed as the assistant director for research in 2003 and the first assistant in 2008. She was appointed to a six-year term.

Leslie Kondo is currently executive director and the chief legal counsel of the state Ethics Commission. Prior to joining the Ethics Commission, he was a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission and headed the Office of Information Practices from 2003 to 2007. Kondo was appointed to an eight-year term.

All three will begin their terms starting May 1, 2016.