George Okuda, a veteran legislative aide who waged unsuccessful campaigns for the state House in 2000 and 2002, was appointed Friday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill a state House seat vacated by Rep. Jessica Wooley.
Wooley left the post to become director of the state Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Quality Control. The district covers Kahaluu, Ahuimanu and Kaneohe in Windward Oahu.
Okuda, a licensed civil and structural engineer who previously worked for Hawaiian Electric Co., has not filed papers to seek re-election to the seat and will fill out the term until the next general election in November.
He said he had no desire to seek the office for a full term and instead plans to simply maintain continuity of services for constituents until a new member comes on board.
"Right now it’s just taking care of (constituents) and making sure that whoever is elected representative for the district is kept abreast of what the community concerns are," Okuda said in a telephone interview.
He thanked Abercrombie and House Speaker Joe Souki (D, Waihee-Waiehu-Wailuku) for having the confidence in him to handle the duties of the office for the next few months.
"George has more than a decade of public service experience and has active legislative ties to the Windward Oahu community," Abercrombie said in a news release. "He will bring stability during this transition period."
Okuda has served as a legislative aide for state Rep. Ken Ito (D, Kaneohe-Maunawili-Kailua) since 2000, drafting, tracking and analyzing bills and resolutions, according to the release. He was also responsible for meeting and working with various state department personnel, organizations and constituents on measures before the Legislature.
Wooley was appointed director of the environmental office in March and confirmed by the Senate in a 17-8 vote.
Candidates for the open seat are Robert Harris and Jarrett K. Keohokalole on the Democrats’ side, Eldean L. Kukahiko for the Republicans, Libertarian Kaimanu Takayama and nonpartisan candidate Kana Naipo.
