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Rep. Denny Coffman resigns from office
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STORY SUMMARY

HONOLULU, Hawaii – State Representative Denny Coffman, an elected official serving West Hawaii, is resigning. According to a dispatch from the House of Representatives, Coffman made the announcement in a letter to State leaders. He reportedly expressed his plans to spend time with his family as his daughter faces a medical issue. His resignation is […]

File photo, Aug. 2012

File photo, Aug. 2012

HONOLULU, Hawaii – State Representative Denny Coffman, an elected official serving West Hawaii, is resigning.

According to a dispatch from the House of Representatives, Coffman made the announcement in a letter to State leaders. He reportedly expressed his plans to spend time with his family as his daughter faces a medical issue. His resignation is effective December 20, 2013.

Coffman – a Democrat – serves the Kona side of the Big Island, from Na’alehu in Ka’u to Kailua-Kona. The area includes Ocean View, Captain Cook, and Kealakekua. From the House of Representatives:

First elected in 2008, Representative Coffman has served in the State House for three terms with an emphasis upon the development of sound and balanced policy to incorporate renewable energy resources across the state through financially viable means.

He has served as the Chair of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protections where he remains a member and also currently serves on the Committees on Judiciary; Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs; and Water & Land.

Prior to his election to office, Representative Coffman served in the United States Army, was a successful small business owner, computer programmer/system analyst and an administrator in the information technologies industry.

Coffman, who lost his wife Bonnie in August to glioblastoma, was also quoted in the release:

Denny CoffmanRep. Denny Coffman, Dec. 9, 2013

““I am extremely honored to have been elected by the people of Hawaii Island and to serve three terms in the Legislature. It is with a heavy heart that I made this decision but as a father and grandfather, I am firmly committed to my family and will be there for my daughters and grandchildren in their time of need. I leave knowing that I have represented the communities of Hawaii Island and the State to the best of my ability.”

UPDATE (1:04 p.m.) Governor Neil Abercrombie shared the following statement upon learning of Rep. Coffman’s resignation:

NeilAbercrombie2Gov. Abercrombie, Dec. 9, 2013

“Denny served our country and state with great honor and strength of purpose. He represented the people of Hawaii Island well and helped set the state on a viable path to a responsible and economically sustainable energy policy, which will benefit generations to come.

While I was saddened to hear of his decision to step down as a member of the House, I recognize, as does anyone who knows him, that as a father and grandfather matters of the family take precedence. The people of Hawaii are thankful for his service and leadership, and we offer our deepest aloha to his family”

UPDATE (4:39 p.m.) House Speaker Joseph M. Souki has also issued a statement on Rep. Coffman’s resignation.

JosephSoukiSpeaker Joseph Souki, Dec. 9, 2013

“It is with deep sadness and regret that I accept the resignation of Rep. Coffman from the State House. I am grateful for all that he has done for state and the Legislature where he has been a respected and positive proponent of environmental progress. I am honored to have been able to call Denny a colleague and I, along with the members of the House, offer our sincere sympathies and wish him and his family the best. He will surely be missed.”

In the same release containing Souki’s statement there was some info regarding how the state would handle the sudden vacancy of the House District 5 seat.

The seat will be officially vacant on December 21, 2013. “Upon the seat’s vacancy,” stated the release, “the Democratic Party of Hawaii must submit within thirty days a list of three prospective appointees to the Governor for his consideration. The Governor must then appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Rep. Coffman’s seat within 60 days of the vacancy from the list of candidates provided by the party.”