Replacement for Joe Souki down to 3 finalists

Three finalists, including a former Maui County councilman and a Maui Democratic Party chairman, have been named to replace longtime Wailuku lawmaker Joseph Souki, who resigned last month from the House of Representatives to resolve sexual harassment allegations.

Under state law the governor must fill the seat within 60 days of the vacancy. The process requires that Maui Democratic Party officials submit three names to Gov. David Ige, who will pick one to serve out the remainder of Souki’s term.

A nominating committee selected Troy Hashimoto, who served as Maui County Democratic Party chairman; Dain Kane, who served four terms on the Maui County Council; and Joseph Wildman, an attorney with the Wailuku firm of Takitani, Agaran & Jorgensen. Hashimoto and Kane have pulled nomination papers to run for the seat in the upcoming primary election.

Souki had served in the House since 1982, representing Wailuku, Waikapu, Waiehu and Waihee, and served twice as speaker of the House during his long political career.

Under a settlement agreement with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Souki, 86, agreed last month to resign, pay a fine and publicly apologize for his behavior after several women, including former state Director of Human Services Rachael Wong, accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct.