Elections Commission sets June 10 interviews, names two to consolidate questions after heavy public testimony

The Hawaii Elections Commission voted on May 6 to schedule interviews for the position of commission chair on June 10 and to hold candidate interviews in public (up to 30 minutes per applicant). The motion also named two commissioners, Barbara (last name on file) and Lindsey (last name on file), to consolidate and reduce redundant commissioners’ questions for distribution to candidates in advance.

Public testimony dominated the meeting’s second half. Groups and individuals—including the League of Women Voters—urged a transparent, standardized selection process. League representative Judith Mills Wong told the commission she wanted the public to see the role description, selection criteria and the method the body uses to pick a chair. “We hope that the process will be standardized and balanced,” she said in brief testimony.

Other public speakers urged specific candidates, with multiple testifiers endorsing Commissioner Ralph Kushner for chair and others urging that interviews and voting be fully public and that applicants disclose conflicts of interest. Commissioners debated whether to require written answers in advance, how to structure follow-up questions and whether interviews should be conducted in public or executive session. The commission agreed to request up to three proposed questions from each commissioner, which Barbara and Lindsey will consolidate and publish with the June 10 meeting notice.

What the motion does: The commission’s action establishes a public timetable and process guidelines (30-minute maximum interviews; pre-submitted consolidated questions available to candidates) so that the public can watch both candidate answers and the commission’s final selection process.

What’s next: Commissioners must submit suggested questions to staff within a week; the consolidation committee will produce a single set of interview questions for the June 10 notice. If no candidate receives the necessary support on June 10, the commission will continue deliberations and may retake votes as necessary.