GABBARD’S ELECTED TO OFFICE IN HAWAIʻI
HONOLULU -November 8, 2010- American Samoa native, Mike Gabbard, was re-elected as a Hawai’i State Senator with 74% of the vote on November 2nd. Senator Gabbard was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and represents District #19, which is comprised of the West Oahu communities of Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale and portions of Waipahu and Ko Olina.
Senator Gabbard will continue serving as the Chair of the Senate’s Energy and Environment Committee and Vice Chair of Transportation and International Affairs--posts he’s held since November 2008.
Gabbard said, "I’m humbled to have this opportunity to continue serving the people of West Oahu and the rest of the state. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot working together over the last 4 years, but there’s still much more work to be done in our growing community.”
Senator Gabbard previously served as a Honolulu City Councilman (Ewa, Kapolei, Waianae Coast) from 2003 to 2005. He was born to Benjamin Harrison Gabbard and Agnes Yandall Gabbard of Leloaloa and lived in American Samoa from 1971-1983. During this time, Gabbard taught at Faga’itua and Samoana High School, and served at American Samoa Community College as a guidance counselor, Assistant Dean of Instruction and Dean of Adult and Community Education.
His daughter, Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, also a native of American Samoa was elected as a Honolulu City Councilwoman for District 6, which encompasses the areas of Honolulu from Kalihi to Makiki..
Councilwoman-elect Gabbard Tamayo said, “My parents taught me the importance of service-that serving others and making a positive impact on people's lives is the most rewarding thing you can do with your life. I took this to heart, and have tried to live my life centered around this service attitude. It’s an honor to have this opportunity to get in there and make a positive difference for the people of Honolulu.”
In 2002 at the age of 21, Gabbard Tamayo became the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii's history when she won her election as State Representative. Since that time, she has risen to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Hawai'i Army National Guard, earning top awards and accolades in training and in combat while serving on two Middle East deployments (2004-2006 and 2008-2009). Additionally, she worked as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington D.C., where she assisted him with issues relating to veterans affairs, energy and natural resources, and homeland security.
For more information, please contact Senator Gabbard's Office at 586-6830.