A state Senate committee on Thursday rejected Gov. Josh Green’s nominee to lead the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The Senate committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism voted to recommend that the full Senate not approve the nomination of Chris Sadayasu.
Sadayasu was born and raised on Hawaii Island and is a graduate of Hilo High School.
The hearing included testimony from Green, Chief Housing Officer Nani Medeiros, and numerous state agencies.
The vote was 4-1, with Sens. Lynn DeCoite, Glenn Wakai, Donna Mercado Kim and Kurt Fevella voting against Sadayasu.
Sen. Carol Fukunaga was the lone vote in opposition of the recommendation.
“Although I believe Chris is a decent person, his performances during several Senate committee hearings have left me with doubts about his ability to effectively lead this department,” said DeCoite, chair of the EET committee. “Due to the lack of confidence I felt in his potential to effectively manage and collaborate with the agencies that would fall under his direction, I could not support or recommend that we move forward with this nomination.”
Despite the committee’s recommendation, Sadayasu’s nomination will move forward for final consideration by the full 25-member Senate.
Sadayasu was the second of Green’s nominees to be rejected by a Senate committee.
Former Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson withdrew his nomination to lead the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in February after the committee on Hawaiian Affairs voted not to recommend him to the full Senate.