Nominees named for House District 9

The Democratic Party today sent out a news release announcing the three people they have chosen as nominees to fill the seat of former Rep. Bob Nakasone, District 9 - Kahului, Wailuku, Puunene, Paia, Spreckelsville. The Governor has until February 5, 2009 to make her selection. She sent out her own release this afternoon soliciting public comment on the nominees, to be submitted by close of business day, January 9th.

The nominees are: Kehau Filimoe'atu, Lance Holter and Gil Keith-Agaran. Governor Lingle will pick one of the candidates to fill Rep. Nakasone's seat and complete the two-year term.

The release contained a brief bio on each nominee, as follows:

Ms. Kehau Filimoe’atu. A founder of several native Hawaiian non-profits, an accomplished community organizer and a strong advocate of social justice issues, Filimoe’atu was born and raised on Maui and is a former business owner who has traveled around the world. Married with three adult children, Filimoe’atu is the supervisor of the Maui Police Department’s 911 Central Dispatch and has worked at the department’s communications section for the past 17 years.

Mr. Lance Holter. Currently Maui Democratic Party Chair, Holter has served with the Peace Corp and on several Boards and Commissions on Maui, including Maui County Board of Variances and Appeals, Habitat for Humanity, Makawao School Community Council, Sierra Club and Maui Tomorrow. He is a strong advocate for energy independence and conservation. The father of three daughters and a new grandson causes him to realize the importance of leaving their generation a legacy of natural coastlines, pristine watersheds and creating a new renewable energy economy for Hawaii.

Mr. Gil Keith-Agaran. An attorney practicing in Wailuku, Keith-Agaran spent a decade in public service as Chair of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources, State Director of Labor and State Deputy Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and as County Public Works Director. He presently serves on the boards of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, the Maui Food Bank, the Maui Coastal Land Trust, the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Maui High School Community Council, and A Keiki's Dream. Keith-Agaran has a J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.A. from Yale College. He is married and is the guardian of a niece who is a senior at his alma mater, Maui High School.