U.S. Sen. Schatz hires Winer as chief of staff
All about the oceans Dennis Oda / doda@staradvertiser.com Andrew Winer, left, director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships in the U.S. Department of Commerce, met with Gov. Neil Abercrombie Thursday before the governor's opening remarks at the Council on Environmental Quality National Oceans "listening session" at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The session was held to collect input on developing plans to implement a national ocean policy.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has hired a former Obama administration official and Honolulu attorney as his chief of staff.
Schatz’ office said Wednesday that the appointed senator named Andy Winer as his chief of staff.
Winer previously worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He also practiced law in Honolulu for 25 years and was partner in a firm for 15 years.
Schatz was appointed to his post last month by Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie following the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Winer and Schatz both led Obama’s first presidential campaign in Hawaii. Winer was the state director and Schatz was the chairman of the effort.
Winer is also a veteran of Senate election campaigns, serving as Daniel Akaka’s campaign manager during the 2006 Democratic primary and as a senior advisor to Mazie Hirono in her Senate election effort.
