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Gov.-elect Neil Abercrombie today made five more Cabinet selections, including Big Island state Sen. Russell Kokubun as the director of the state Department of Agriculture.
Kokubun had been a contender for state Senate president, but lost power in a recent Senate reorganization. His appointment will create a Senate vacancy that Abercrombie will fill from recommendations from the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
Abercrombie selected Bruce Coppa, a management consultant, as director of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
The governor-elect chose Kealii Lopez, the president of Olelo Community Media, as director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
He picked Fred Pablo, the Maui County budget director, as the director of the state Department of Taxation.
He selected Sunshine Topping, a human resources manager, as director of the state Department of Human Resources Development.
Abercrombie, who will be sworn in as governor on Monday, has made 11 of his 16 Cabinet appointments.
