Ronald Dan Kouchi is a Democratic politician from Hawaii, representing the 8th district in the state Senate. He has served as the 14th President of the Hawaiʻi Senate since 2015.
Ron Kouchi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 14th President of the Hawaii Senate | |
| Assumed office May 5, 2015 | |
| Vice President | Michelle Kidani (since 2016) Will Espero (2014-2016) |
| Preceded by | Donna Mercado Kim |
| Vice President of the Hawaii State Senate | |
| In office December 28, 2012 – November 5, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Donna Mercado Kim |
| Succeeded by | Will Espero |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 8th district | |
| Assumed office September 7, 2010 | |
| Appointed by | Linda Lingle |
| Preceded by | Gary Hooser |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 or 1958 (age 66–67)[1] Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joy Tanimoto |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Drake University (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Personal life
editRon Kouchi is married to Joy Naomi Tanimoto. He has two sons, Dan and Egan.[2]
Career
editKouchi received his high school diploma from Waimea High School and attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.[3] He served as a lobbyist for the County of Kaua‘i at the Hawai‘i State Legislature and is a former member of the Legislative Committee of the Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce. He served for 22 years (11 terms) as a Kaua‘i County Councilman, including 12 years as Council Chair.[4][5] He is a former director of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (2003-2006) and the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. He served on the boards of the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital and YMCA, and chaired the Wilcox Health Foundation’s capital campaign. He worked as a legislative analyst for the former Rep. Dennis Yamada in 1982, before getting appointed to the Senate (District 7) for the first time in 2010.[citation needed] Kouchi defeated John Sydney Yamane in the September 18 primary and Republican candidate David Hamman and Nonpartisan candidate Alfred Darling in the Hawaii State Senate elections 2010.[6] He was elected to the Senate (District 8) in 2012. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, the Vice Chair of the Committee on Tourism, and the Majority Caucus Leader.[7] He has sponsored 244 bills.[8]
Electoral History
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ronald Kouchi | 14,438 | 62.7 |
| Republican | David Hamman | 6,245 | 27.1 |
| Total | 20,685 | 100 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ronald Kouchi | 17,887 | 77.7 |
| Republican | William Georgi | 5,138 | 22.3 |
| Total | 23,025 | 100 |
References
edit- ^ "District 08 – Ronald Dan Kouchi (D)". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Ron Kouchi". Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHY". Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "Smart business Hawaii". Sam Slom. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ Lenny Klompus (8 September 2010). "Figueira and Kouchi Appointed to Fill Hawaii Senate Vacant Seats". Hawaii Reporter. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ Hawaii State Office of Elections - 2010 general election certified results
- ^ Legislative Members
- ^ Ronald D. Kouchi - Hawaii State Legislature - Open States