Hawaii governor wants more legal advice before filling Senate vacancy

Gov. Josh Green says if he has to pick a new state senator for District 22 before the Aug. 10 primary it will be Cross Makani Crabbe.

Green told reporters at a press conference Wednesday that he is waiting on the state attorney general to tell him whether he has to fill the seat within 60 days after the seat becomes open or can wait until after the primary and let the voters decide which Democrat they want.

The seat became open when Sen. Maile Shimabukuro resigned on May 31.

Crabbe, Cedric Gates and Stacelynn Eli were selected by area Democrats to be on the short list given to Green for his consideration.

The Senate seat represents Ko Olina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha and Makua.

The governor made it clear that he would prefer to wait until after Aug. 10, something he first announced on Tuesday. But Senate President Ron Kouchi told Green that he disagreed with the delay, stating in a press release that the state law on vacancies was unambiguous about the 60 calendar-day deadline.

While Green said it was his constitutional obligation to support fair elections, Kouchi countered that Green’s constitutional obligation “is to comply with all state laws.”

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