74
PHOTO BY BRUCE ASATO/BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Govervor Neil Abercrombie holds a press conference to talk about his recent trip to Asia. Mike McCartney, executive director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, also spoke on the Asia trip with the governor. HSA photo by Bruce Asato
Gov. Neil Abercrombie described his low job approval rating as a spur to regain the public’s confidence, he said at a news conference today.
Abercrombie, responding to a job approval rating of 30 percent in an October survey by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, N.C. — the lowest of any governor in the nation — said of his administration’s missteps, “I take the blame — totally.” He said it is still early in his administration: “I play all four quarters.”
Abercrombie said there is disillusionment with government across the country. “It’s up to us, then, to deliver,” he said. On what needs to change, he said, “I think I can communicate better about what we’re doing.”
Abercrombie said he did not ask his former chief of staff Amy Asselbaye and deputy chief of staff Andrew Aoki to resign. In recent weeks Abercrombie has faced questions regarding his decisions to suspend state environmental and land use laws for military ordnance removal, and to not disclose the names of candidates for state judgeships.
The governor said he would not push for a pension tax next year because the state’s revenue picture has improved.
