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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
U.S. Congressional candidate Tulsi Gabbard was all smiles as she made her way to the stage at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall following the first printout on Saturday night putting her clearly ahead of Mufi Hannemann. Gabbard thanked everyone for their support.
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Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is looking to fill two top staff positions.
Amy Asselbaye, her Hawaii-based chief of staff, is departing to devote more time to her work at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Asselbaye also opened a coffee shop in Hawaii Kai with her husband and another couple last year.
"With my chief of staff returning to her job at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, I decided to move my chief of staff position to the D.C. office to handle the day-to-day office operations while Congress is in session," Gabbard said in a statement issued Wednesday through an aide.
Gabbard also is looking to replace her deputy chief of staff, Jennifer Goedke, who left the position earlier this month. No reason for her departure was given.
Asselbaye is working part time with Gabbard as she makes the transition out of the role.
She was an aide to Neil Abercrombie for 18 years in Congress and served as operations director for his 2010 gubernatorial campaign before leaving in December 2011. She joined Gabbard’s staff shortly after Gabbard’s 2012 victory to represent Hawaii’s 2nd District (rural Oahu and neighbor islands).
"One of the things I admire about Tulsi is that she sincerely cares, and really listens to people," Asselbaye said in a statement. "She has already proven herself to be an effective leader in Hawaii and in Congress."
Gabbard added she also is hiring a district director to address the needs of constituents in Hawaii.