GOVERNOR LINGLE NAMES WEST HAWAI`I COUNCIL OF ADVISORS
For Immediate Release: July 16, 2005
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has appointed nine volunteers to serve on the Governor’s West Hawai`i Council of Advisors, which will help the Lingle-Aiona Administration identify issues of importance to the community, recommend ways to improve state government and enhance the quality of life for all Hawai`i residents.
The members of the West Hawai`i Council of Advisors are:
· Chair J. William Sanborn, mortgage loan consultant, HomeStreet Bank
· Beverly Byouk, office manager, Ocean View Auto & Electric
· Douglas Carr, owners and chief diver, Professional Divers Hawai`i, Inc.
· Leina`ala Kihoi, consultant/social worker, Department of Education
· Joanne Ralston, founder, Joanne Ralston & Associates
· John Ray, trustee, Parker Ranch Foundation Trust
· Philip Reilly, owner, Loulu Valley Farm
· Shirley Spencer, sales, web design and marketing, Island Art Supply
· Rick Vidgen, Clark Realty Corporation
“I appreciate the commitment these individuals are making to ensure state government is responsive to the needs of our residents in West Hawai`i and throughout the state,” said Governor Lingle. “I encourage the public to participate in the council meetings and to let my Administration how we can continue to improve government services.”
The West Hawai`i Council of Advisors will hold public meetings on the second Wednesday of every month. The first meeting will be held on August 10, 5:30 p.m., Kealakehe High School, Cafeteria Building, 74-5000 Puohulihuli in Kailua-Kona. Sharron Ackles, the Governor’s West Hawai`i liaison, will assist the council in carrying out its functions.
The council is tasked with providing the Governor with a list of short- and long-term issues and goals that should be addressed by state government over the next one-, two- and five-year periods. The council will also identify spending priorities and potential new sources of revenue for the state, as well as recommend potential nominees from the neighbor islands to serve on state boards and commissions.
The Governor established neighbor island councils of advisors in May through an executive order, which also created councils for the islands of Moloka`i and Lana`i for the first time. The new councils build on the success of the four neighbor island advisory committees (West Hawai`i, East Hawai`i, Kaua`i and Maui,) the Governor established when she first took office.
The Governor invited residents to apply to serve on the councils of advisors. Members of the advisory committees were required to re-apply. The council of advisors for West Hawai`i, East Hawai`i, Kaua`i and Maui, each have nine appointed members, while the Lana`i council has five members. Due to the level of interest in serving on the Moloka`i council, the Governor issued an amended executive order to increase the members from five to seven.
The councils include individuals with expertise in business, education, native Hawaiian issues, social services, arts and culture, energy, agriculture and the environment. The members will serve as volunteers and will receive no compensation, but will be entitled to reimbursements for related expenses while attending the meetings and carrying out the council’s responsibilities.
For more information about the Governor’s West Hawai`i Council of Advisors, please visit the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov, or contact the West Hawai`i liaison office.
Liaison: Sharron L. Ackles
75-5722 Kuakini Highway
Kuakini Tower, Suite 215
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i 96740
Phone: (808) 327-4953
Fax: (808) 327-4952
E-mail – konagov@hawaii.gov
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For more information, contact:
Sharron Ackles
Governor’s Liaison – W. Hawai`i
Phone: (808) 327-4953
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
