Posted on: Saturday, April 16, 2005

Jittery UH nominees getting 2nd hearings

By Tara Godvin
Associated Press

Two nominees to the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents, whose jitters reportedly tripped them up when they appeared before the state Senate, will get another hearing.

Gubernatorial nominees Ramon S. de la Pena and John K. Kai had their initial hearings March 1. But things did not go well for either, who are both currently interim appointees.

"The two gentleman who went before the Higher Education Committee the last time have both expressed concerns about how nervous they were. They both have said that they didn't feel they came across as well as they possibly could have," said Sen. Bob Hogue, R-24th (Kailua, Kane'ohe), in thanking committee chairman Clayton Hee for the second chance.

Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahu-ku), announced that de la Pena and Kai would get a new hearing Monday.

The nominees should be prepared to answer a battery of questions including their knowledge of fiscal audits of the university and the appointing and evaluation of a president for the system, Hee said.

"We expect answers, and this opportunity ... gives these interim appointees yet another chance to prove that they know what they're doing," Hee said.

An effort in the Legislature is under way to change how regents are appointed.

A proposed constitutional amendment would enable the state to change the appointment process. A companion bill would create a candidate advisory council to screen and nominate potential candidates for appointment to the Board of Regents.

The regents are appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.