Posted on: Friday, December 20, 2002

Ted Hong expected to be state's chief negotiator

Advertiser Staff

Ted Hong, a former attorney for Hawai'i County, is expected to be named the state's chief negotiator by Gov. Linda Lingle today.

Hong, 45, was assistant corporation counsel to former Big Island Mayor Stephen Yamashiro through most of his term from 1992 to 2000. In the waning months of the administration, he was named corporation counsel succeeding Richard Wurdeman, who had resigned.

As chief negotiator, Hong will take the lead for the state at the bargaining table with government worker unions. Contracts for all 13 bargaining units will be up for negotiations in the coming months.

Known as a labor attorney, he has been in private practice since 2001. He was among a group of Democrats to publicly support Republican Lingle in the governor's race, and was one of several Hilo coordinators for the campaign.