Lingle Cabinet slow to develop

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Members of Gov.-elect Linda Lingle's transition team say the process of whittling down applicants for top Cabinet jobs is moving slower than they envisioned, largely because of the sheer volume of applications that have been pouring in.

That could mean a substantial number of directorships will remain vacant when Lingle is sworn in on Dec. 2.

Transition team chairman Travis Thompson said more than 1,100 job résumés have been received since Nov. 6, the day after Lingle's election.

"To do the right job, a careful job, an appropriate job is taking more time than I initially expected and it's primarily due to the approximately 1,100 résumés we've received," Thompson said. "It just takes time to sort them out. We're building a database and that also takes time."

The committees have not been given a deadline to submit finalists, although the health committee already has handed over a preliminary list with three names. "We'll take as much time as we need to make sure that the best candidates for each assignment are selected," Thompson said.

Some directors could be announced next week, but that will depend on whether the committees are done with their work and whether Lingle, who is on the Mainland attending conferences, is ready to make the decisions, Thompson said.

Lingle spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka said no decision has yet been made whether to retain any appointed directors or their deputies beyond the inauguration, adding that Lingle will need to decide that when she returns during the weekend.

Thompson announced the leaders of three more committees that will be charged with picking finalists for directors to head the departments of Transportation, Land and Natural Resources, and Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Kenneth Choate, executive vice president for Haseko Construction, will head the transportation committee. Allan Smith, vice president and chief operating officer of Grove Farm Co. on Kaua'i, will lead the search for the boss at the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kitty Lagareta, chairwoman and chief executive officer for Communications Pacific, will head a team seeking a director for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Six other committees previously announced are dealing with health, agriculture, tourism liaison, public safety, commerce and consumer affairs, and taxation.

Thompson said there will be several more review committees. Search teams to find directors for the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Human Services likely will be next up, he said.

Other Cabinet positions likely will be filled without advice by committees, Thompson said. By the same token, however, Lingle has stated she will look at all applicants and did not promise to choose from among the finalists being forwarded by the committees, he said.