Human services chief chosen
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday morning appointed a human services director, an acting director of public safety and a deputy tax director, thus ensuring she had her own appointees in place in each of the 16 state agencies under her control when the Legislature opened its 2003 session at 10 a.m.
• Post: Director, Department of Human Resources Development • Age: 46 • Family: Husband, two daughters • Previous jobs: Personnel program administrator at human resources department; supervising deputy for the Attorney General's Employment Law Division; supervising deputy for AG's Individual Claims Unit; county attorney and deputy attorney, Kaua'i County; per diem judge, 5th Circuit Court; private attorney • Education: Juris doctorate, University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Law; University of Puget Sound, Kapa'a High School
Kathleen Watanabe was named director of the Department of Human Resources Development, a position that entails administration of personnel and civil service matters for the state. Since last fall, she has been the department's personnel program administrator, overseeing labor relations issue, negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, employee relations, benefits, training and safety.
Kathleen N. Watanabe
Lingle said Watanabe's experience in the department and with the Employment Law Division of the Attorney General's Office make her well-suited for the job.
Lingle said Watanabe will work closely with Ted Hong, the state's new chief labor negotiator, and Budget Director Georgina Kawamura on negotiations with the public worker unions. Contracts for all 13 collective bargaining units expire when the fiscal year ends on June 30.
"It's important that it not be just one person in negotiations," Lingle said.
The Kaua'i native's appointment ensures that each of the state's major islands are represented in the cabinet of the former Maui mayor. Lingle has also tapped directors from the east and west sides of the Big Island, Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i, in addition to O'ahu.
Lingle yesterday also named James Propotnick as interim director for the Department of Public Safety following the withdrawal of the nomination of Honolulu Police Assistant Chief Stephen Watarai late Tuesday.
Propotnick works on a contract basis for the Background Investigation Contract Service Arm of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A licensed private investigator, Propotnick was with the U.S. Marshal's service for 28 years, including serving as deputy U.S. marshal for Minnesota.
Lingle had promised to have all 16 official cabinet positions filled by the time the Legislature opened; on Monday she named directors for the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Human Services.
Two major appointments remain: directors of the departments of Public Safety and Taxation. Yesterday, Lingle named Kurt Kawafuchi deputy tax director. Kawafuchi has been supervisor of the Attorney General's Tax Division. He previously was a tax attorney.
