STAND. COM. REP. NO.1004

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 101

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 101, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

KATHLEEN WATANABE, gubernatorial nominee as Director of Human Resources Development, for a term to expire December 4, 2006,

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon your review of background information submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that Kathleen Watanabe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of Puget Sound and a Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii. Ms. Watanabe has served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Employment Law Division and the Individual Claims Unit. She has previously served as a Hearings Officer for the Hawaiian Homes Commission, a sole proprietor in her own law practice, a per diem Judge for the 5th Circuit Court on Kauai, a County Attorney and a Deputy County Attorney for the County of Kauai, Special Counsel to the Kauai County Attorney, Law Clerk to the Kauai County Attorney, Law Clerk to the Majority Leader of the Hawaii State House of Representatives, Law Clerk for the Office of Clayton Ikei, a tutor for the Department of Education, a Guidance Counselor for Kamehameha Schools and Alu Like, and a Social Worker for the Department of Health.

Ms. Watanabe has received several awards including an Honorable Mention Award from the American Bar Association for Outstanding Legal Performance in response to Hurricane Iniki, and the Manager of the Year Award for the Department of the Attorney General for the State of Hawaii. Under her leadership the Employment Law Division of the Department of the Attorney General of the State of Hawaii received the Outstanding Team Award in 2001.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Personnel Director of the Judiciary, the Intergovernmental and Community Relations Division Chief of the Judiciary, the Chief Negotiator of the Office of Collective Bargaining, the Superintendent of the Department of Education, the Employment Law Division of the Department of the Attorney General, the Personnel Program Administrator for the Workforce Planning Division, Chief of the Budgeting and Support Service Office of the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), a Program Administrator for DHRD, a Personnel Program Administrator for DHRD, the Associate Director of Human Resources for the University of Hawaii, a Councilmember of the Kauai County Council, the Hawaii State Personnel Council, and five private citizens.

Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominee regarding her vision and priorities for the Department of Human Resources Development and continuing reformation of the civil service system. Your Committee believes that the nominee adequately responded to the Committee's inquiries.

Your Committee notes that the nominee has wide support from the community. Both management and labor expressed support for the nominee and her ability to bring all interested parties together.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, character, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair