Gov. David Ige has appointed political newcomer Chris Todd to succeed Rep. Clift Tsuji who died Nov. 15.
Gov. David Ige has appointed political newcomer Chris Todd to succeed Rep. Clift Tsuji who died Nov. 15.
Todd, a distribution manager at Hawaii Paper Products, is the son of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, a longtime stalwart of the Democratic Party.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve my community,” Todd said in a statement issued by Ige’s office. “I look forward to the hard work ahead and will always keep an open door and mind.”
Todd was one of three nominees selected by the Hawaii County Democratic Party. He also coaches football at Hilo High School.
Tsuji represented Hilo in the state House since 2004 and was re-elected Nov. 8. Todd will fill the rest of his two-year term.
The next legislative session begins Jan. 18.