Hawaii Elections Commission Selects New Chair
Michael Curtis will replace Scotty Anderson early next month.
The nine-member commission that advises Hawaii’s chief election officer on matters relating to elections has new leadership.
Michael Curtis, a current member of the , was hired by the commission on Wednesday.
But he will serve only until June 30, 2026, when his current commission term is up. Members can only serve a total of eight years.
Curtis replaces Scotty Anderson, whose eight years as chair ends Dec. 6. After the selection of Curtis, Anderson thanked his colleagues for the last eight years.
“They haven’t all been smoothed and paved, but they have been interesting and I won’t forget any of them,” he said over a public Zoom conference, adding that the commission has a “very competent person” in incoming chair Curtis.
Applicants for the non-paid position included Karl Dicks, who was not interviewed by the commission because he did not show up for the meeting Wednesday, and Ralph Cushnie.
Dicks is a former Honolulu mayoral candidate and Republican state Senate candidate in 2002 on claims that other politicians improperly campaigned before they were registered for their elections.
Cushnie, who is from Kauai, has with the elections commission regarding certification of the 2022 primary results. A recent complaint from Cushnie by the Hawaii Supreme Court last year.
And, at the encouragement of Sen. Glenn Wakai and Rep. Gene Ward, Peter F. Young was also considered for chair of the election commission and interviewed by the commissioners.
