Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 10, 1 October 2005 — Vacant House seat [ARTICLE]

Vacant House seat

As a Hawaiian I am very disappointed that Gov. Linda Lingle did not appoint Roy Benham, a well respected and experienced former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, to the state House seat vacated by Rep. Kenneth Hiraki. With the low number of Hawaiian legislators in Hawai'i's capitol, the addition of such a respected statesman and a leader in the Hawaiian community would have provided a refreshing interim legislative appointment as opposed to a newcomer to the Democratic Party who has failed to pay large debts and obligations as well as state and federal taxes over several years. I hope the governor is sincere in her support of Hawaiian issues, having looked over such a prominent and respected kupuna. Bobby Leialoha Carter Kailua, O'ahu