STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3438

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 662

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 662, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Director, Office Of Planning

G.M. No. 662

LEO ASUNCION, JR., for a term to expire at noon on 12-03-2018,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Leo Asuncion, Jr., from the Governor; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Aha Moku Advisory Committee; County of Maui Department of Planning; County of Kauai Planning Department; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council, Ke Kahu O Na Kumu Wai; Pūlama Lāna‘i; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Construction Alliance; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Chapter of the American Planning Association; Group 70 International, Inc.; Pacific Resource Partnership; Laborers' International Union of North America local 368; and thirty-seven individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Asuncion's experience as the Planning Program Manager for the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program, commitment to public service, and proven leadership qualify him for nomination as the Director of the Office of Planning.  Mr. Asuncion has experience as a Senior Regulatory Analyst and Senior Resource Planning Analyst at Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Project Planner and Manager at SSFM International, Inc.; Planner for the Planning and Program Evaluation Division of the Judiciary; and Staff Planner for the Land Use Commission.  He has served as the Vice Chair of the Coastal States Organization and as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and state and national chapters of the American Planning Association.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Asuncion has worked in planning for over twenty-five years and has experience in the public and private sectors.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Asuncion has served as the Acting Director of the Office of Planning since March 2014.  Based on Mr. Asuncion's knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Mr. Asuncion will continue to lead the important work of the Office.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, 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 Water, Land, and Agriculture,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair