MEDIA RELEASE

Governor Neil Abercrombie has presented a letter to the Democratic Party of Hawaii requesting its list of three nominees to fill Hawaii’s seat in the U.S. Senate left vacant with the passing of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

In the letter, addressed to Party Chairperson Dante K. Carpenter, the governor states “with a heavy heart”:

“We want to remember and be thankful for all of the Senator’s good works for the State of Hawaii and the Nation. We will do that. However, the President and members of the 112th Congress are continuing their efforts to address fiscal and debt-reduction issues critical to the well-being of our State and the County …

“The people of Hawaii deserve to be fully represented in the debates and decisions the Senate will have on those matters in the coming days and weeks.”

According to Hawaii Revised Statutes, the party has up to 21 days to provide the list of three nominees.

The party’s state central committee has announced it will meet at party headquarters Dec. 28 and decide on the three nominees for Abercrombie’s consideration.

Link to the HRS §17-1:
www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0017/HRS_0017-0001.htm