MEDIA RELEASE

Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim (Sen. District 14) has been selected as the president of the Senate and will preside during the 27th Hawaii State Legislature, which convenes Jan. 16, 2013.

Donna Mercado Kim

Sen. Ronald D. Kouchi (Sen. District 8 ) will serve as Senate Vice President. Sen. David Ige (Sen. District 16) will continue as chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, with Sen. Michelle Kidani (Sen. District 18) serving as his vice chair.

The Senate acted quickly to organize after Maui State Sen. Shan Tsutsui (Sen. District 5) took the oath of office as lieutenant governor. The Senate line up remains mostly intact to allow members continuity in their committee work as the Senate has been preparing for the upcoming session.

“We are solidified in dealing with the pressing issues facing our State. The Senate continues to be organized in a cooperative and focused manner. I’m humbled to receive the confidence and support of my colleagues” Kim said.

“We reached an agreement quickly so that we can continue to focus our attention on the issues and begin preparations for the 2013 session,” Kouchi said.

A complete listing of Senate Leadership and Committee Chairmanships is as follows:

President – Donna Mercado Kim
Vice President – Ronald D. Kouchi
Majority Leader – Brickwood Galuteria
Assistant Majority Leader – Michelle Kidani
Ways and Means, Chair – David Ige
Ways and Means, Vice Chair – Michelle Kidani

Majority Floor Leader – Will Espero
Majority Policy Leader – Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Whip – Gil Kahele
Majority Whip – Jill Tokuda
Judiciary and Labor, Chair – Clayton Hee
Commerce and Consumer Protection, Chair – Roz Baker
Agriculture, Chair – Clarence Nishihara
Technology and The Arts, Chair – Glenn Wakai
Economic Development, Government Operations, and Housing, Chair – Donovan Dela Cruz
Energy and Environment, Chair – Mike Gabbard
Education, Chair – Jill Tokuda
Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs, Chair – Brickwood Galuteria
Health, Chair – Josh Green, M.D.
Higher Education, Chair – Brian Taniguchi
Human Services, Chair – Suzanne Chun Oakland
Public Safety and Military Affairs, Chair – Will Espero
Transportation & International Affairs, Chair – J. Kalani English
Water and Land, Chair – Malama Solomon

— Find out more:
www.hawaiisenatemajority.com