Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz has been chosen to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz has been chosen to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the replacement today. Schatz was among the final nominees Hawaii Democrats picked for the open Senate seat, vacated by the Inouye’s death.
“I make this decision with full confidence that Brian’s appointment is in the best interest of the State of Hawaii and the nation,” Abercrombie stated in a news release. “As lieutenant governor, Brian has demonstrated all the qualities Hawaii could ask for in a senator: Respect for our traditions and a strong sense of values, remarkably strong character and problem-solving capacities, and above all, an abiding love for and commitment to the people of our state. Brian Schatz will do us proud.”
Schatz was inaugurated Dec. 6, 2010, as the state’s 11th lieutenant governor. Prior, he served eight years as the CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii, one of Hawaii’s largest nonprofit community social services organizations. From 2008 to 2010, he was the chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. He also chaired President Barack Obama’s campaign in Hawaii in 2008.
Schatz was a member of the State House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006, serving as the House Majority Whip, Economic Development Committee chairman, Water, Land and Ocean Resources vice chairman, Consumer Protection and Commerce vice chairman, and a member of the Hawaii Affairs, Higher Education, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Committees.
For more, check out tomorrow’s West Hawaii Today.