State House Speaker Calvin Say's son was one of the 249 Hawaii Superferry workers furloughed last week, and Say said he would ask his colleagues whether he has a conflict of interest before voting on any Superferry legislation in a possible special session.

Say said his son, Geoffrey, was an entry-level account executive for Superferry. The speaker said his son's employment had no influence on his support for the Superferry project or in his talks with the state Senate over a special session.

"My whole objective of supporting the Superferry was another option, for the general public at large, to have ocean transportation in the Islands," Say said.

Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise), said he had spoken to the House majority attorney and was told he had no legal conflict. If Superferry legislation comes before the House in special session — or in the next regular session — the speaker said he would step down from presiding over the House and ask the vice speaker whether he has a conflict.

Say, as speaker, typically rules on questions about whether lawmakers have conflicts.

The state's conflict-of-interest law does not generally apply to lawmakers. But lawmakers often ask whether their employment, business or educational ties pose a conflict before they vote on legislation, because perception can influence the reputation of the Legislature. Lawmakers generally do not have conflicts when the legislation covers a class in which they are a member — such as lawyers or doctors — but could have conflicts if they would personally benefit.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.