STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1659

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 552, 553

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 552 and 553, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Community Development Authority

 

G.M. No. 552

BEAU J.K. BASSETT,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 553

MARY PAT WATERHOUSE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Beau Bassett and Mary Pat Waterhouse to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

 

BEAU BASSETT

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Beau Bassett from The Trust for Public Land and twelve individuals.

 

     Mr. Bassett earned a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Geography/Hydrology and Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  He currently serves as an Of Counsel attorney with Pitluck Kido & Aipa, LLC, where his practice is centered on business law, nonprofit law, real estate, and trusts and estates.  Previously, Mr. Bassett acted as a Deputy Public Defender at the Office of the Public Defender, providing legal representation to Hawaii's indigent population.  He also produced, "Out of State", a feature-length documentary on how native Hawaiian culture and arts can rehabilitate and aid in the reintegration of native Hawaiian inmates.

 

     Mr. Bassett indicated in his personal statement that he hopes that each community flourishes and accentuates its own cultural qualities that make the community so unique.  He also hopes to see greater unity of vision between public interest and private enterprise.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Bassett's past experiences in Honolulu's business culture, as well as his continuing commitment to ensure the vitality of the Hawaiian culture, will be great assets to the HCDA Board.

 

MARY PAT WATERHOUSE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Mary Waterhouse from ten individuals.

 

     Ms. Waterhouse earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  She is currently serving as a community volunteer in many aspects, including as an Advisory Board Member and volunteer for the Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse, a Board Member for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program, reading volunteer at Manana Elementary School, and a Board Member at Diagnostic Laboratory Services.  Previously, Ms. Waterhouse was Director of Budget and Fiscal Services for the City and County of Honolulu, Vice President of Finance for Catholic Charities Hawaii, Vice President of the Hawaii Community Foundation, and Deputy Comptroller for the Department of Accounting and General Services.

 

     Ms. Waterhouse indicated in her personal statement that she believes she can assist the HCDA Board with transparency in its decision-making processes through her independent voice and willingness to ask difficult questions in order to arrive at good decisions that serve the community.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Waterhouse's past experiences in budget management, as well as her demonstration of sound financial leadership, will be great assets to the HCDA Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing 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 Human Services and Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair