Battle over leadership divides House Democrats

Long-serving speaker Say faces a challenge from Maui lawmaker Souki and his backers

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 10, 2012

~~<p>State House Democrats are locked in a power struggle over whether Speaker Calvin Say or Rep. Joseph Souki, the former speaker who has the backing of a dissident faction, should control the chamber.</p>
<p>Say, who has held power since he replaced Souki as speaker 13 years ago, had 22 votes as of late Friday afternoon, sources say. Souki, who has aligned with dissidents in an attempt to regain power, had 21 votes. One newly elected Democrat who was thought to be leaning toward the dissident faction was undecided.</p>
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State House Democrats are locked in a power struggle over whether Speaker Calvin Say or Rep. Joseph Souki, the former speaker who has the backing of a dissident faction, should control the chamber.

Say, who has held power since he replaced Souki as speaker 13 years ago, had 22 votes as of late Friday afternoon, sources say. Souki, who has aligned with dissidents in an attempt to regain power, had 21 votes. One newly elected Democrat who was thought to be leaning toward the dissident faction was undecided. Login for more...