STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3553

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 293, 294, 535

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 293, 294, and 535, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

 

G.M. No. 293

DON R. GERBIG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 294

SEAN O'KEEFE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012; and

 

G.M. No. 535

DARREN J. STRAND,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Don R. Gerbig, Sean O'Keefe, and Darren J. Strand to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Don R. Gerbig was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Maui County Farm Bureau, Tropical Hawaiian Products, BEI Hawaii, Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc., Kauai Commercial Company, Inc., Twin Bridge Farms, Inc., and one interested individual.

 

     Mr. Gerbig is currently retired doing consulting work in safety and environmental regulatory programs.  He was previously employed by Gay and Robinson, Inc. as a Diversified Crop Coordinator, Brewer Environmental Industries as a Branch Manager, by Amfac/JMB, Hawaii, Inc. as a Director of Environmental Affairs and Safety, and by two other sugarcane producers prior to that.  Mr. Gerbig received his Bachelor's degree in Agronomy with a minor in Chemistry from California State Polytechnic College. 

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Sean O'Keefe was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, and Gay and Robinson, Inc.

 

     Mr. O'Keefe satisfies the requirement of having a representative of the sugar industry on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.  He received his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.  He is currently employed by Alexander and Baldwin, Inc. as its Director of Environmental Affairs.  He was previously employed by Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company as a Environment Affairs Specialist.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Darren Strand was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc., and one interested individual.

 

     Mr. Strand satisfies the requirement of having a representative of the pineapple industry on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.  He received his Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry from Western Oregon University.  He is presently employed by Maui Pineapple Co. as its Director of Farm Operations.  Mr. Strand is also a Director of the Maui County Farm Bureau.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair