HONOLULU –Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Justin Howard Woodson of Kahului to the state House of Representatives seat for District 9, a position left vacant by recently appointed state Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran. Woodson’s appointment is effective immediately.

“Justin’s experience as a small business owner and his familiarity with the state Legislature will ensure continued and strong representation for the residents of Maui,”Gov. Abercrombie said.

Woodson owns and operates Woodson’s Eco Auto Wash in Kahului. Previously, he worked within the real estate industry for Realty Executives Oahu and Prudential Locations LLC, fulfilled analyst and clerk duties for the offices of state Reps. Tom Brower and Mele Carroll and Sen. Carol Fukunaga, and served as special assistant to the state chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Woodson is a former budget sub-committee member for the Maui Economic Opportunity Head Start program, former president of the Young Democrats of Hawaii, and former state coordinator for the College Democrats of Hawaii. He currently serves as vice present of The Gospel of the Alpha and Omega International and volunteers for the King’s Cathedral Maui Children’s Ministry.

Woodson earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University Fullerton.

He and his wife, Stacy, reside in Kahului with their four children.

WAILUKU, Hawai‘i – The House District 9 Council Nominating Committee has completed its selection meeting.

“We were extremely impressed with each of the applicants.  They were all well qualified, thoughtful and we would be proud to have had any of them as our representative for House District 9.  We thank all of them for their commitment to public service,” said Dave Merchant, Chair of the Nominating Committee.

Applicants considered were James “Kimo” Apana, Anthony Lloyd Edington, Renee-May Kehau Filimoe’atu, Alan Fukuyama, Kallie Keith-Agaran, Joseph Pontanilla, and Justin Woodson.

The Maui County Democratic Party is following state party guidelines which does not allow the selected names to be publicly released until after the Governor appoints an individual to the seat.  Any requests for the selected names can be directed to the Democratic Party of Hawaii or the Office of the Governor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2013

MAUI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY RECEIVES 7 APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 9

WAILUKU, Hawai‘i – The Maui County Democratic Party has received seven applications from Democrats in good standing who live in House District 9, which encompasses Kahului, Puunene, Maui Lani and Old Sand Hills to replace the seat left vacated by Senator Gil Keith-Agaran.

Applicants include James “Kimo” Apana, Anthony Edington, Renee-May Kehau Filimoe’atu, Alan Fukuyama, Kallie Keith-Agaran, Joseph Pontanilla, and Justin Woodson.

The District 9 Council will comprise the official nominating committee and will meet on Saturday, January 12, 2013.  The committee will allow each candidate to speak for up to 10 minutes and committee members will be able to vote for up to three candidates, but not for the same person. 

The final three names as identified by the nominating committee will then be transmitted to the Maui County Democratic Party Chair and the Hawaii Democratic Party Chair who will then forward the names to the Governor.  The Governor has sixty calendar days following the first day of the vacancy to make an appointment to the House seat.

The nominating committee will not release the top three names of the candidates and will defer to the Governor on whether he will release the three names to the public.

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Last week, with my family, dedicated supporters who made the trip out from Hawaii, and several members of Congress at my side, I was officially sworn in as a United States senator — a tremendous honor.

I promise that I’ll work my heart out for the people of Hawaii each and every day I have the privilege to serve.

None of this would be possible without your strong support of my campaign.

As you know, we squared off against a well funded Republican opponent, backed by a bevy of mainland special-interest groups. In fact, after the dust settled, our opponents actually outspent us by nearly $1.5 million!

Note from the Maui County Webmaster

We can still help with campaign expenses.  Mazie’s opponent had the Koch Brothers bankrolling her.  She has us.  We may not have $billions.  But there are a lot of us.  So please donate even if it is just $15:

Click here to contribute $5 to our debt-relief fund today — and help us raise $25,000 by Saturday to wipe the slate clean!

WAILUKU, Hawai‘i – The Maui County Democratic Party has set Friday, January 11, 2013 at noon as the deadline to apply for the District 9 State House seat left vacant by Gil Keith-Agaran due to his appointment to the State Senate by Governor Neil Abercrombie. Any democrat in good standing for at least six months prior to the application deadline who lives in House District 9, which encompasses Kahului and a portion of Sand Hills in Wailuku, may submit their name.

Applicants must fill out a Statement of Candidacy” form/Questionnaire (alternate .doc format), and submit a resume not to exceed one page, which is available at the above links or at the Law Offices of Merchant Horovitz located at the Wells Street Professional Center in Wailuku. Recommendations from third parties will not be considered as only applicants may submit their own name.

All applications will be date and time stamped and a confirmation sent to the applicant. The chair will vet all applications for residency and “good standing” and prepare an official list to be considered. The Democratic Party’s District 9 Council will comprise the official nominating committee and will meet on Saturday, January 12, 2013. The committee will allow each candidate to speak for up to 10 minutes and committee members will be able to vote for up to three candidates, but not for the same person.

The final three names as identified by the nominating committee will then be transmitted to the Maui County Democratic Party Chair and the Hawaii Democratic Party Chair who will then forward the names to the Governor. The Governor has sixty calendar days following the first day of the vacancy to make an appointment to the Senate seat.

“This is a grassroots effort and a wonderful opportunity to serve the people of Hawai‘i and the residents of the 9th District. I encourage any interested democrats to apply,” said Dave Merchant, Chair of District 9’s Nominating Committee.

For any questions or more information, contact Dave Merchant via e-mail at dbm@mhmaui.com or by phone at (808) 344-3347.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 7, 2013

HONOLULU –Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Gilbert Samuel Coloma Keith-Agaran to state Senate to represent Hawaii’s 5th senatorial district, a seat recently left vacant by Lt. Gov. Shan S. Tsutsui. The appointment is effective immediately.

“Gil brings a wealth of experience from the practice of law and work in county and state government. His passion for the people of the Valley Isle is evident and I am confident he will continue to serve them well,”Gov. Abercrombie said.

Previously appointed to the House in January 2009 to complete the unexpired term of the late Bob Nakasone, Keith-Agaran has continued to practice law in Wailuku. He served as chair and deputy director of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources, director of Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, as well as County of Maui Public Works Director.

He presently serves on the boards of the Maui Food Bank and the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council. Keith-Agaran previously was a member of the boards of the Maui Coastal Land Trust, the Maui High School Community Council (and its predecessor School Community-Based Management), the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, and other non-profit organizations on Maui and Oahu, and the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Advisory Committee. He remains an active member of his community and church.

Keith-Agaran is a graduate of Maui High School. He has a BA in history from Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, and he is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley. Gil is a partner in the Maui law firm of Takitani Agaran and Jorgensen LLLP. He is married to Kallie Keith-Agaran.

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Mazie Hirono

Tulsi Gabbard

photos courtesy of Emily’s List

MAUI COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY RECEIVES 7 APPLICATIONS FOR SENATE DISTRICT 5

WAILUKU, Hawai‘i – The Maui County Democratic Party has received seven applications from Democrats in good standing who live in Senate District 5, which encompasses Wailuku, Waihee, and Kahului to replace Senator Shan Tsutsui.

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

District and precinct officers within Senate District 5 will comprise the official nominating committee and will meet on Saturday, January 5, 2013.  The committee will allow each candidate to speak for up to 10 minutes and committee members will be able to vote for up to three candidates, but not for the same person. 

The final three names as identified by the nominating committee will then be transmitted to the Maui County Democratic Party Chair and the Hawaii Democratic Party Chair who will then forward the names to the Governor.  The Governor has sixty calendar days following the first day of the vacancy to make an appointment to the Senate seat.

The nominating committee will not release the top three names of the candidates and will defer to the Governor on whether he will release the three names to the public.

For any questions or more information, contact Justin Hughey via e-mail at hughey2000@gmail.com or by phone at (808) 358-5679.

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