By AUDREY McAVOY By AUDREY McAVOY ADVERTISING Associated Press HONOLULU — State Senate President Shan Tsutsui became Hawaii’s new lieutenant governor Thursday, replacing newly sworn-in U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tsutsui will have official offices on Maui
By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press
HONOLULU — State Senate President Shan Tsutsui became Hawaii’s new lieutenant governor Thursday, replacing newly sworn-in U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tsutsui will have official offices on Maui and in Honolulu. He said this adheres to his desire to make state government less Oahu-centric and allows Tsutsui to work from his home island.
“I just look at this as an opportunity. I don’t think I would have predicted this. I don’t think that it’s something that even a few weeks ago I would have thought that someday I might become lieutenant governor and take on those roles and responsibilities,” Tsutsui said at a news conference.
Tsutsui signed papers Thursday making the change official, the governor said.
As Senate president, the 41-year-old Democrat was first in line for the job when Abercrombie appointed Schatz to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye.
He said he was initially planning to turn down the position until he met with Abercrombie, discussed his role and talked things over with his family and colleagues.
The establishment of a Maui office was an important factor, he said.
“It sends a message, like the governor had said, that all the neighbor islands, wherever you live, need to feel connected to government,” Tsutsui said.
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