Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie could pick Sen. Daniel Inouye’s replacement this week, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Those who wish to be appointed put their name forward and will have two minutes to make their case before a state Democratic Party meeting on Wednesday. The party’s central committee will then select three names from which the governor may choose a replacement. Inouye passed away on Dec. 17.
Among those expected to be on the list are Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, whom Inouye hoped would succeed him, and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz. Tulsi Gabbard, elected to the House of Representatives in November, also put her name forward.
Dante Carpenter, state Democratic Party chairman, said the list of names would be released Wednesday, when the party’s state central committee meets to select three names to forward to Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
By law the governor must make an appointment from the list of three names.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has asked Abercrombie to appoint a replacement quickly to ensure Hawaii is fully represented as Congress makes end-of-the-year votes on important issues including the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
