STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1789

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 143
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Government Operations and Housing, to
which was referred Governor's Message No. 143, submitting for
study and consideration the nomination of:

     RAYMOND H. SATO, gubernatorial nominee as Comptroller for a
term to expire December 2, 2002,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the background information submitted by the
nominee, your Committee finds that Raymond H. Sato holds a
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hawaii, with an
emphasis in civil engineering and a Master of Science degree from
California State University at Long Beach, with an emphasis in
civil engineering.  

     Mr. Sato, who is a professionally licensed engineer in both
Hawaii and California, has thirty-three years of engineering
experience, and has served as Comptroller for the State of Hawaii
since April, 1998.  In addition, Mr. Sato was appointed Manager
and Chief Engineer of the Board of Water Supply, City and County
of Honolulu in 1995 and Manager and Chief Engineer of the
Department of Water for the County of Kauai in 1980.  

     Mr. Sato has served as National Director and Chairman of the
Hawaii section of the American Water Works Association, and
President of both the Hawaii Water Works Association and Kauai
Society of Civil Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors.
Mr. Sato also received the George Warren Fuller Award in 1990
from the American Water Works Association.  

 
a                                                     GM143
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1789
                                   Page 2


     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted to your
Committee by:  the Department of Accounting and General Services
(DAGS), the State Procurement Office, the Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands, a member of the City Council for the City and County
of Honolulu, the Manager and Deputy Manager of the Honolulu Board
of Water Supply, four employees at the Board of Water Supply for
the City and County of Honolulu, the Director and Deputy Director
of the Department of Water Supply for the County of Maui, the
Hawaii State Teachers Association, Yamasato Fujiwara Aoki and
Associates, Inc., the Plumbers and Fitters Local 675 United
Association, Contractors Association of Kauai, International
Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers
AFL-CIO, Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO,
Paul Louis and Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers Council of
Hawaii, and 28 individuals.

     All testimony unanimously supported Mr. Sato by indicating
that he has strong analytical and leadership qualities, including
the ability to run a large and complicated department efficiently
as well as motivate staff to unleash creativity. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Government Operations and Housing that is attached
to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position
to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Government
                                   Operations and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ROD TAM, Chair

 
a                                                     GM143