Sam Slom
| Sam Slom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 9th district | |
|
Assumed office 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 13, 1942 Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Divorced |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish |
Samuel Morgan "Sam" Slom (born April 13, 1942) is the Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. Since 1996, he has represented the 9th District, which includes Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala and Diamond Head on the island of Oahu. As the sole Republican senator, he is the senate minority leader and floor leader of the Hawaiian Senate. He also serves on all 16 Senate committees and on every special committee and subcommittee. He is a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Career
Slom formerly served as chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii.[1] Slom is the president and executive director of Smart Business Hawaii, a chamber of commerce that says it is more small business-oriented than the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.[2]
In 1996, Slom challenged incumbent Democrat Donna R. Ikeda to represent the 8th district in the Senate of Hawaii.[3] Slom won the election, defeating Ikeda, 12,191 votes to 7,312.[3] The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the election a "huge election night upset".[4]
Slom is the sole Republican in the 25-member Senate since it reconvened after the 2010 elections and is, therefore, minority leader. Slom technically serves on all sixteen Senate committees but obviously he cannot physically attend all of the meetings. He must depend on a Democratic colleague to second a motion that he makes on the Senate floor or the motion will die for lack of a second. Lynn Finnegan, an outgoing Republican member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, describes Slom's challenge as communicating with Republican constituents across the state who will pressure Democratic lawmakers to consider alternative proposals on some issues.[5]
A second Republican senator, Fred Hemmings, did not seek reelection in 2010 and was replaced by a Democrat. No other U.S. state's legislative body has just one member of the minority party, although the Council of the District of Columbia has only Democrats and independents.
Education
Slom received an LL.B from La Salle Law School in 1966 and a BA in Government/Economics from the University of Hawaii in 1963.[6]
Political experience and activities
Slom holds the following positions in the Hawaii State Senate:
- Senate Minority Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2010–present
- Minority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1996–present
- Senator, Hawaii State Senate, 1996–present
- Vice Chairman, Senate Committee for Economic Development and Technology
Current legislative committees and subcommittees
Slom is a member of the following committees:
- Agriculture, Member
- Commerce and Consumer Protection, Member
- Economic Development and Technology, Vice Chair
- Education, Member
- Energy and Environment, Member
- Hawaiian Affairs, Member
- Health, Member
- Higher Education, Member
- Human Services, Member
- Judiciary and Labor, Member
- Public Safety and Military Affairs, Member
- Technology and the Arts, Member
- Tourism and Government Operations, Member
- Transportation and International Affairs, Member
- Water and Land, Member
- Ways and Means, Member[6]
Slom is a member of the following subcommittee:
- Joint House and Senate Committee for Hawaii Health Connector Oversight, Member
References
- ↑ Yuen, Mike. "Three candidates challenging Ikeda They're branding the state senator as being out of touch with her constituents". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 21, 1996.
- ↑ Lynch, Russ. "It's time for Hawaii to become business friendly, says the new Chamber of Commerce chief Showing Aloha Spirit for Business. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 19, 1996.
- 1 2 "Hawaii Results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 6, 1996.
- ↑ Yuen, Mike. "Election Aftermath: Collaboration may replace confrontation - One of the results of the general election could be a state Legislature with a different style". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 7, 1996.
- ↑ "GOP has only one vote in Hawaii senate", Laredo Morning Times, Laredo, Texas, November 14, 2010, p. 13A
- 1 2 "Senator Samuel 'Sam' M. Slom's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
External links
- Hawaii Senate Minority official website
- Hawaii State Legislature - Senator Sam Slom official government site
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