Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran to fill the Senate vacancy created by the promotion of former Senate President Shan Tsutsui to lieutenant governor.

The appointment is effective immediately. 

“Gil brings a wealth of experience from the practice of law and work in county and state government,” Abercrombie said in a news release. “His passion for the people of the Valley Isle is evident and I am confident he will continue to serve them well.”

Keith-Agaran (D, Kahului-Wailuku-Puunene) previously was appointed to the House in January 2009 to complete the unexpired term of the late Bob Nakasone and was re-elected twice. He is a partner in the Maui law firm of Takitani Agaran and Jorgensen LLLP.

Tsutsui accepted the promotion to lieutenant governor last month, succeeding new U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Schatz was appointed Dec. 26 by Abercrombie to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by the Dec. 17 death of U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye.