HONOLULU – After 31 years serving Hawaii residents in state government, Hawaii State Senator Donna Mercado Kim is aiming to take her extensive experience to Washington D.C. Kim announced today she is running for a seat in the First Congressional District representing urban Oahu, being vacated by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.
“I have had the privilege to serve on the Honolulu City Council, in the state House of Representatives, the State Senate as Senate President; with this experience comes a perspective that I want to take to Washington DC on behalf of the people of Hawaii. It is with my son and grandchildren in mind that I have been passionate and unwavering in my public service. It is my goal to turn over to them a better state and better union,” said Kim.
Kim, a Kalihi resident and Farrington High grad, has never lost a race since she was first elected in 1982. And she believes her knowledge and proven leadership skills will give Hawaii residents as a voice of reason in a bitterly divided Congress.
“The stalemate in Congress is impacting all of us. We need strong representatives on Capitol Hill who understand our local and state government, who is unafraid to hold government accountable, who has asked the hard questions and yet still able to coalesce with others to get things done,” said Kim.
Kim enters the 1st congressional race with the endorsement of the IBEW Local 1260, a union representing 3,300 electrical workers in Hawaii and Guam.
“Having just gone through the recent government shutdown, I feel it’s vitally important that we compliment the strength of our state’s Congressional delegation with another lawmaker who has a proven track record of working across the aisle, to make tough decisions that benefit Hawaii’s hard working men and women. We believe Sen. Mercado Kim is that lawmaker who will fight alongside IBEW Local 1260 as we work to increase union density and strengthen the middle class in Hawaii and Guam,” said Brian Ahakuelo, IBEW 1260 Business Manager.
Before being elected Senate President, Kim was Vice President and served as the chair of the Ways and Means and Tourism committees. Kim was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, Honolulu City Council in 1985 and the State Senate in 2000.
Yeah! She has my vote and thousands of people whose voices were not heard these past 2 weeks!! She is not afraid to listen and represent the people of Hawaii! She is a true public servant!
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