Posted on: Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Attorney general to fill in for governor
Advertiser Staff
With both Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona in New York to attend the upcoming Republican National Convention, state Attorney General Mark Bennett assumes the role of acting governor at 8 this morning.
Lingle left for the Mainland yesterday while Aiona was scheduled to leave this morning. Bennett will act as head of state for Hawai'i until Sept. 3, when Aiona is scheduled to return from the Mainland.
Lingle yesterday said Chief of Staff Bob Awana will continue to manage the daily duties of the office while she and Aiona are away.
Lingle also joked that Bennett has some trepidation at the idea that the governor's security detail will be assigned to him during her absence.
"I don't think Mark was looking forward to having security, but he was kind of overruled," Lingle said. The governor said one of her bodyguards also told Bennett: " 'Don't forget, you know, she buys us lunch and dinner — and not drive-in food, either.' "
State law dictates that in the temporary absence of the lieutenant governor, the attorney general takes over the powers and duties of that office. And the lieutenant governor, in the temporary absence of the governor, shall assume the powers and duties of that office.
Mark Bennett
