6 Apply for Maui Senate Vacancy

Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, pictured here, provided remarks earlier this week during the 2013 Maui Council Inauguration. There are now six people vying for appointment to the vacant Senate post he left behind to accept the appointment as lieutenant governor. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A total of six people applied for the state Senate vacancy to represent District 5 which covers the Wailuku, Kahului and Waihee areas.

Applicants include: Loretta Giannotti, Robert George Hill III, Natalie A. Kama, Rep. Gilbert Samuel Coloma Keith-Agaran, Clifford R. Libed, and Mary D. Wagner.

The vacancy was created when former Senate president Shan Tsutsui accepted the appointment as lieutenant governor for Hawai’i.

Precinct and district officers within the Senate District 5 will serve as the nominating committee and will speak with candidates this Saturday, Jan. 5. Each candidate will have the opportunity to speak with committee members for up to 10 minutes.

State seal. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The list will be narrowed to three and transmitted to the governor for consideration.

The governor has 60 days from the first day of the vacancy to make a decision.

It will be up to the governor to determine whether the names of the three finalists will be released or withheld from the public.