State Democratic leader intends to step down

Advertiser Staff

State Democratic Party chairwoman Lorraine Akiba said last night she plans to leave that post this month to concentrate full-time on her law practice.

Akiba, 46, said she told the party's executive committee of her decision on Monday. She is with the law firm McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP, specializing in commercial litigation and environmental law.

"I have to return to being a full-time partner and lawyer at my firm," she said. "I've been doing both jobs and I feel this not being an election year, this is the time to make the transition."

Akiba said she was not pressured to step down in the aftermath of a 2002 campaign that saw Republicans capture the governor's office for the first time in 40 years and win the Maui and Kaua'i mayor's races. But Democrats increased their majority by two seats in the Legislature.

Akiba was elected to head the party in April 2001, succeeding Walter Heen.