Posted on: Monday, January 17, 2005

EDITORIAL
House appointment need not wait till Feb.

Gov. Linda Lingle is to be congratulated for setting up a "transparent" and resolutely bipartisan system for choosing a replacement for Democratic state Rep. Sol Kaho'ohalahala, who has resigned to accept another state position.

Unfortunately, Lingle's process will leave Kaho'ohalahala's district (East Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i) without a representative through Feb. 7, long after the Legislature has opened and after deadlines for introduction of bills and grants-in-aid applications.

There must be a better way.

A recent commentary by House Democratic Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro points out that the selection system established by Lingle almost certainly will end up in a deadlock. That will leave the final decision to the governor. So why wait?

By law, Kaho'ohalahala's replacement also must be a Democrat. Rather than wait until Feb. 7, Lingle should gather a list of potential replacement names from Maui County Democrats, other interested parties and Kaho'ohalahala himself; consult with her advisory committee if she wishes, and then quickly name someone to give the 13th District the representation it deserves.