I join my fellow Senate colleagues and all of Maui County in expressing our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of my friend and colleague Mele Carroll.
Mele and I worked closely since my days as a Maui County councilmember and continued with me when I started in the Hawai‘i State Senate. While serving as my chief of staff, Mele garnered the proficiency and knowledge of the County of Maui and the Hawai‘i State Senate. She went on to make her own mark serving the people of Maui and our State and helping all those she came in contact with.
Hawai‘i has suffered the loss of a dedicated leader and honorable public servant. I will dearly miss my friend and colleague Mele Carroll.
"Although it is with a heavy heart to see her step down from a position I know she cherishes and loves, I support Representative Mele Carroll's decision to resign from the House of Representatives to care for her health and spend quality time with her family. She has been a longtime friend and colleague for many years and I commend her dedication and passion as a state lawmaker to serve her community and improve the lives of the people of Hawaii. With her compassionate nature and drive to make a difference, she has worked tirelessly each day to make this world a better place. She is an effective and diligent champion for her district and the state and we will keep her and her 'ohana in our thoughts and prayers as she takes the time to care for her health."
- Senator J. Kalani English, Majority Leader
The Hawaii State Senate has organized today and selected Donna Mercado Kim to continue as Senate President for the 28th Legislature, which will convene on January 21, 2015.
"I appreciate the confidence the members have in my leadership and I am pleased that we were able to organize so quickly," said Senate President Kim. "This is a strong leadership team that will waste no time in preparing for the upcoming legislative session."
Sen. Will Espero will serve as Vice President and will continue to chair the Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee. Sen. Jill Tokuda will chair the Ways and Means Committee and Sen. Ron Kouchi will serve as the Vice Chair. Sen. J. Kalani English assumes the Majority Leader position.
"Our State continues to face a number of fiscal challenges, and the Senate Majority stands ready to work with both the House and the Ige Administration to address these issues and help Hawai‘i families," said Sen. Tokuda.
"The Senate will focus on sustainability and resiliency as an overall theme for the next legislature," added Sen. English. "We will work diligently to ensure that all of Hawai‘i's people move forward together."
View the press release for a complete list of Senate leadership and committee chairs.