HONOLULU — Gov.-elect David Ige took his first step as the state’s incoming leader, announcing he will appoint Mike McCartney as his chief of staff. ADVERTISING HONOLULU — Gov.-elect David Ige took his first step as the state’s incoming leader,
HONOLULU — Gov.-elect David Ige took his first step as the state’s incoming leader, announcing he will appoint Mike McCartney as his chief of staff.
With the election behind him, Ige is focused on building his core team ahead of taking office Dec. 1, he said in a news conference Friday.
“We are looking for people that share the same core values and philosophies … people that are collaborative, who want to engage their communities,” Ige said.
McCartney previously served in the administration of former Gov. Ben Cayetano as director of the state Department of Human Resources Development. He had leadership positions in the state Senate, where he served for a decade, led the Hawaii State Teachers Association and was chairman of the state Democratic Party.
Oahu-born McCartney is currently president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. He said he plans to resign that post Nov. 20. Ige praised McCartney’s broad experience in the private sector and in the public sector.
“Mike’s personality, his style, his abilities, really provide an extension of my core beliefs of open government, being respectful and responsive to all concerned, and, most importantly, doing the right thing at the right time,” Ige said.
McCartney said it’s a privilege and honor to work for the governor.
“We’ll be putting together the best team possible to serve the state of Hawaii,” he said.
The open positions will be posted on a new website that was scheduled for launch late Friday afternoon, Ige said.
Once the team is in place, Ige will begin tackling the top issues, he said. First on the priority list is the state budget.
