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STAR-ADVERTISER / JUNE 2017
Ford Fuchigami, who has served as Gov. David Ige’s administrative director for the past year and a half, is leaving his post. Then-state Transportation Director Fuchigami at a press conference concerning security at the Honolulu airport.
Ford Fuchigami, who has served as Gov. David Ige’s administrative director for the past year and a half, is leaving his post at the end of the month.
It’s not clear why Fuchigami is stepping down. He didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Ige, during a press conference Thursday, called Fuchigami a “great public servant.”
“He has done remarkable things. Nobody works harder than Ford, as you guys know,” said Ige. “He is in the office before 4 in the morning and he’s the last one out. And he just told me that yeah, he will finish at the end of the month and then he’ll be moving on.”
Ige said he has not chosen a replacement.
Fuchigami has essentially served as the governor’s top adviser.
He previously served as director of the state Department of Transportation.
Also today, Ige’s former chief of staff Mike McCartney was approved by the full Senate in a 15 to 10 vote as the director of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
McCartney attracted an unusual amount of opposition among senators.
Sen. Glenn Wakai, who took the lead in opposing McCartney’s nomination said prior to the vote that he had “failed to adequately demonstrate an ability to lead.”
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