Shan Tsutsui | |
---|---|
12th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii | |
Assumed office December 27, 2012 |
|
Governor |
Neil Abercrombie David Ige |
Preceded by | Brian Schatz |
12th President of the Hawaii Senate | |
In office November 6, 2010 – December 27, 2012 |
|
Preceded by | Colleen Hanabusa |
Succeeded by | Donna Mercado Kim |
Personal details | |
Born |
Wailuku, Hawaii, U.S. |
August 9, 1971
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Lyndelle Lee |
Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) |
Shan S. Tsutsui (born August 9, 1971) is an American politician who has been the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii since 2012. He was previously a member of the Hawaii Senate from 2003 to 2012, and he served as President of the Senate from 2010 to 2012.
Born in Wailuku, Tsutsui graduated from Maui High School in 1989 and received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Hawaii in 1994.
Tsutsui was a member of the Hawaii Senate from 2003 until becoming Lieutenant Governor in 2012. From 2003 to 2011, he represented district 4, which includes Waihee, Wailuku, and Kahului. Subsequently he represented district 5.
Following the death of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz to replace Inouye in the U.S. Senate. As president of the Hawaii Senate, Tsutsui was first in line to replace Schatz as lieutenant governor. If Tsutsui had declined the position of lieutenant governor, Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say could have accepted the position. Attorney General David M. Louie would have been next in line after Say. After consulting with his family, Senate leaders, and Governor Abercrombie, Tsutsui accepted the position the following day. Tsutsui's successor in the Senate (who served until 2014) was selected by Governor Abercrombie from a list of three names submitted by the central committee. Tsutsui's position as Senate president was filled by Senate vice president Donna Mercado Kim until Senate members voted on a new president on the opening day of the 2013 session.
He has three daughters with his wife, Lyndelle.