Brian Schatz Senate: Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Tapped To Replace Late Sen. Daniel Inouye

[cal04]

Source: Huffington Post

Hawaii's Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz has been chosen to replace the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

Hawaii Democrats picked U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, Schatz and Department of Land and Natural Resources Deputy Director Esther Kiaaina as final nominees for the open U.S. Senate seat. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Schatz as Inouye's replacement Wednesday evening.

After fighting respiratory complications, Inouye passed away December 17 at the age of 88.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/brian-schatz-senate_n_2364677.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz was selected today to fill the US Senate vacancy created by the recent passing of US Senator Daniel Inouye.

The announcement was made by Governor Neil Abercrombie during a press conference this afternoon.

Schatz was among 14 people who had applied for the vacancy, and one of three finalists considered by the governor. Other finalists selected by the Hawaii Democratic Party’s state central committee included US Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, and Hawaii Land and Natural Resources Deputy Director Esther Kiaaina.

The next in line to fill the now-vacant lieutenant governor’s position is the state’s Senate president, currently held by Senator Shan Tsutsui of Maui. The law states that Tsutsui must make his decision on whether to fill the post “promptly,” according to Abercrombie.

http://bigislandnow.com/2012/12/26/lt-gov-brian-schatz-appointed-to-fill-inouyes-us-senate-vacancy/


Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) has selected Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D) as Hawaii’s next senator following the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) earlier this month. Schatz, who had previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives and as chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party, will be the youngest member of the Senate at 40 years old. Schatz is already boarding a flight to Washington D.C. tonight and plans to be sworn in sometime tomorrow.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/12/26/1377581/sen-brian-schatz/

Sen.-designate Brian Schatz will fly to DC with POTUS on Air Force One tonight
https://twitter.com/mikememoli

[Tx4obama]

1. Regarding Schatz ...

-snip-

Schatz, 40, was elected lieutenant governor in 2010. He ran unsuccessfully to succeed U.S. Rep. Ed Case in Hawaii's 2nd Congressional seat in 2006. Schatz served as CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii, a nonprofit social service agency on Oahu. Between 1998 and 2006, Schatz spent eight years in the state House of Representatives, representing the 25th district of Tantalus, Makiki and McCully.

In 2008, he served a spokesman for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Hawaii. That same year, he was elected chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Schatz grew up in Hawaii and attended Punahou School before traveling to California where he graduated from Pomona College. After returning from college, he taught at Punahou School.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20427178/inouye-replacement-selection-meeting-under-way

[Ken Burch]

12. Perhaps this makes it easier for Inouye's choice to run in the special election.

n/t.

[David in Canada]

22. Nope

Hawai'i is utterly devoid of senority. They cannot afford to have a placeholder which would essentially be throwing away two years of seniority.

Furthermore, temporary appointments usually involve 70+ year old political rethreads given the honor as a capstone to their career. Yes, I know Carte Goodwin was appointed in 2010 at the age of 36 years old after Byrd died but he wasn't an elected official either. Schatz is the Lieutenant Governor and it would be foolish to accept the appointment for two years with no position to go too. No one wants to be a 42-year-old (Schatz' age on Election Day 2014) has-been.

[alp227]

17. DownWithTyranny blog calls Schatz "Abercrombie Makes The Best Possible Appointment To The Senate"

Just as important as keeping (Ed) Case out of Congress is the fact that Schatz, who will be the youngest member of Congress, is also a progressive and a reformer with a great record on environmental issues. Hawaii's Senate delegation, Schatz and Mazie Hirono, is likely to turn out to be the best in the whole country.

[freshwest]

18. We are very fortunate, then. It was a wise choice.

[mahina]

28. I agree wholeheartedly.

The only better choice would have been Gary Hooser, but he wasn't one of the three names given by the SCC to Neil.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. DownWithTyranny is incorrect about Schatz being the youngest member of Congress

Aaron Schock is currently the youngest, but Patrick Murphy will take that title when he is sworn in next week.

[brooklynite]

19. Why should an outgoing Senator being able to pick his/her replacement?

Doesn't seem any less political to me.

[freshwest]

20. The idea was that he knew who would be best. I'm not interested in arguing.

It's a done and appears fine. Thanks and good night.

[David in Canada]

21. Three Main Reasons

There are three main reasons why Brian Schatz was likely chosen over Colleen Hanabusa.

1) Seniority. With the death of Daniel Inouye and impending retirement of Daniel Akaka from the Senate, as well as the promotion of Mazie Hirono to Akaka's seat, Hawai'i is poised to lose almost all of its seniority. It is therefore imperative for the state to start rebuilding its seniority. House seniority cannot be transferred to the Senate except as a tie-breaker for two senators taking office on the exact same day. Therefore, Hirono's six years of House seniority is gone and Hanabusa's two years of House seniority would be gone too if she were appointed to the Senate. Also, Hanabusa is 61 while Schatz is 40. Schatz therefore has a lot more time to accrue seniority and be able to go on to become a committee chairman. It takes until a senator's third term before a committee chairmanship becomes a possibility and a prime committee chairmanship usually requires 20-25 years of service. By the time Hanabusa could accrue this seniority, she'd be approaching retirement. With Schatz and Hirono's replacement, Tulsi Gabbard, being only 31 years old, this is their best chance to do so.

2) Hanabusa's seat. If Hanabusa had been appointed to the senate, she would have had to forego her House seat. This would have necessitated a special election. In Hawai'i, special elections involve all candidates on a single ballot and whomever has a plurality is elected. There are primaries in special elections or even a second round in the even of no candidate receiving a majority of votes cast. A split Democratic field and with 1/2 term former Rep. Charles Djou on the ballot, Djou could easily make a comeback. Djou was elected in 2010 after Hanabusa and Ed Case split the Democratic vote allowing Djou to win with less that 40% of the vote. While another Djou win wouldn't be the end of the world (he'd likely lose again in 2014), it would allow the GOP to make hay and say "hey, they oppose the president's fiscal plan everywhere, even in Hawai'i!!!!1!!" even though it would ignore all context. Besides, when was the last time Republicans paid attention to context?

3) Electability. Hanabusa, prior to her election to Congress, had a long career as a state senator. However, her attempts at promotion were very lacklustre. She lost three previous congressional bids and her two congressional victories were rather lukewarm. Granted, her defeat of then-Rep. Charles Djou in the 2010 general election was as a challenger and Hawai'i *loves* their incumbents. However, in 2012, as the incumbent, she only got 53% of vote while Obama won with 70%, Hirono defeated former governor Linda Lingle for the U.S. Senate seat 62-38 and Tulsi Gabbard won over 3/4 of the vote in her own district.

[freshwest]

24. Excellent answer to go with alp's. Thanks very much. I'm out of this, it's all good with me.

Which is what I said upthread, that i approve. As if anyone needs my opinion in Hawaii. Night.

[dkf]

3. I am SHOCKED.

Wow. Gutsy of Abercrombie not to go with Inouye's chosen successor. I am sure there are stories behind this.

[Mr.Turnip]

6. Abercrombie and Inouye weren't exactly close and he's something of a Contrarian

Also Inouye kinda sorta opposed Abercrombie in the democratic primary for gov last time around (though he did not outright endorse his opponent).

But mostly its just that Abercrombie does what he wants and he's personally loyal to his running mate and LG.

Also maybe Abercrombie wants someone who can be in the senate for a very long time and gather seniority over the long term, Schatz is only 40 while Hanabusa is in her 60s.

[mahina]

29. Bet you dollah

Neil genuinely selected the person he felt would do the best job for Hawaii.

[dkf]

32. Well Schatz is certainly young enough to make a substantial impact over time.

Other than that I don't know much about where he stands.

[catbyte]

4. Didn't Inouye want Hanabusa? Surprising.

[Freddie Stubbs]

36. It's the Governor's decision

Governor Abercrombie served in Congress for almost 20 years. He probably knows what he is doing.

[catbyte]

38. I realize that. I was surprised the governor ignored Inouye's wishes, that's all.

[Freddie Stubbs]

39. He had to take a lot of people's wishes into account

[BlueStater]

5. As bizarre as I find it that the wishes of a dying, respected, longtime senator weren't honored,...

..., I'll just assume there was a good reason, politics-wise, for this choice.

[marshall]

7. Hopefully Hanabusa will speak out

If she says she didn't want the position all is good.

[Mr.Turnip]

8. She applied for it so she certainly wanted it.

[Cha]

23. Imv, all is good anyway.. Tweet of Colleen Hanabusa's statement..

Mike Memoli

@mikememoli Hanabusa statement: "I fully respect the process and the governor’s right to appoint a successor."

[okaawhatever]

10. Abecrombie claims it was because he wanted to keep Hanabusa where she is because of her position

on the Armed Services Committee. Also, he is hoping to develop seniority.......

Abercrombie said that his decision was in the “overall best interest” of the state and that “sometimes you have to set aside personal considerations in order to look for the good of the whole.”

“Now that Sen. [Daniel] Akaka has retired and Senator [Daniel] Inouye has passed away, that Representative Hanabusa occupies a key position on the Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives,” he said.

"and I think as well the question of establishing seniority in as many venues as we can with our small delegation is another foremost consideration.”

excerpts taken from link provided.

[freshwest]

13. Seniority is an important issue. He decided to keep one in the HoR to keep the numbers.

The Lt. Governor having been a legislator will likely hit the ground running, too.

[Freddie Stubbs]

37. Yep. Actuarial tables would predict more longevity for Schatz

[dkf]

33. Very ironic that securing a good committee doomed her.

But my interest isn't furthering Hanabusa's career...

I have to say I am pretty impressed with Abercrombie. He is making some tough decisions and is pretty forward thinking.

[David__77]

34. Why is that bizarre? It isn't an aristocracy.

The "wish" was an opinion, just the same as others. Honoring him does not require that his endorsed replacement must also be endorsed above all others.

[Dragon Turtle]

9. Maybe

To avoid a special election.

[KamaAina]

11. One of the sharpest tacks in the Big Square Building in my day

but it really never occurred to me that the Gov would go against Inouye's last wish.

[jonthebru]

14. Regarding Inouye's final wish.

Hawaii is a small state. Dan may have considered some of the issues regarding his replacement but there are other issues he may not have considered. Here is Governor Abercrombie's news conference this afternoon:

Big, really big shoes to fill. I, for one, am happy with the choice.

[Firebrand Gary]

16. I too am also happy! =)

[mahina]

30. Thanks for the clip.

I'm happy w Brian too.

[Firebrand Gary]

15. Abercrombie shows that he also knows how to play the long game. Love it! nt

[Cha]

25. Tweet of Rep Colleen Hanabusa's statement..

Mike Memoli

@mikememoli Hanabusa statement: "I fully respect the process and the governor’s right to appoint a successor."

[cal04]

26. Thank you Cha

[Cha]

27. Yeah, I'm all excited..

I didn't see that coming.. but, I like it!!

cal04

[NBachers]

31. Plus, I don't think Hanabusa is especially despondent about her spot in the House

She ran, she got elected, and she's got to be stoked about that.