Deadline Looms for Ige to Pick New DLNR Chair
With the Carleton Ching appointment behind him, the governor has until Monday to nominate someone else if the Senate is to confirm him or her this session.
Two weeks have passed since Gov. David Ige, lacking the votes in the Senate, reluctantly withdrew his nomination of Carleton Ching to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The controversy over his appointment of a lobbyist for Castle & Cooke, a major land developer, has subsided as the public鈥檚 attention聽has turned to other issues.聽
But the governor has remained focused on finding a new nominee, he told Civil Beat during an editorial board meeting Thursday. The application process was reopened after the Ching appointment fell through and interviews have begun.
Time is rapidly running out though, if Ige hopes to have the Senate confirm someone this legislative session. He has until Monday to submit a nominee for lawmakers聽to consider before they adjourn May 7.
Gov. David Ige聽answers a question during an interview Thursday at Civil Beat’s office in Kaimuki.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
If Ige doesn鈥檛 pick someone else to lead DLNR by then, Carty Ching, the interim chair, will steer the department until a nominee can be confirmed during next year’s legislative session.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very much aware of the Monday deadline,鈥 Ige told Civil Beat Thursday.
He wouldn’t say who, if anyone, is being seriously considered or if he has a new name to submit to lawmakers on Monday.
鈥淚 would prefer to take the time to find a quality candidate,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t has been one of my priorities to really transform the culture in government, in all departments. So I have been looking for leaders that can help do that, in every role.鈥
The governor said his office聽quit accepting applications earlier this week.
鈥淎s we鈥檝e been collecting them, if there seemed to be candidates, I have been interviewing,鈥 Ige said, adding that he was unsure how many had applied.
It鈥檚 possible that lawmakers could decide to hold a special session in the interim if the聽appointment comes聽after Monday. But it鈥檚 unclear if Senate leaders would be open to doing so.
Ige withdrew his nomination of Ching on March 18 amid mounting public pressure. The governor was unable to convince the public or a majority of senators that he was the right person for the job.
The head of DLNR oversees nearly 900 employees who work in 10 divisions. They are tasked with protecting and managing aquatic resources, boating and recreation, conservation and coastal lands, forestry and wildlife, historic preservation and state parks.
Environmental groups criticized Ching over聽his lack of experience in conservation and ties to land developers and groups that advocated for the now-defunct Public Land Development Corporation.
Ige saw Ching as a leader whose background could聽help the state make better use of its lands, including finding ways to increase revenue.
The governor聽asked the public and his former colleagues to put faith in聽his choice but that wasn’t enough. As a result, he’s more attuned now to what it will take to get the next nomination through the Senate.
The DLNR post is the only problem Ige has had so far in filling his Cabinet.
