Sam Slom

Sam Slom
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 9th district
Assumed office
1996
Personal details
Born (1942-04-13) April 13, 1942
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Divorced
Profession Attorney
Religion Jewish

Samuel Morgan "Sam" Slom (born April 13, 1942) is the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. Since 1996, he has represented the 9th District, which includes Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala and Diamond Head on the island of Oahu. As the sole Republican senator, he is the senate minority leader and floor leader of the Hawaiian Senate. He also serves on all 16 Senate committees and on every special committee and subcommittee. He is a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Career

Slom formerly served as chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii.[1] Slom is the president and executive director of Smart Business Hawaii, a chamber of commerce that says it is more small business-oriented than the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.[2]

In 1996, Slom challenged incumbent Democrat Donna R. Ikeda to represent the 8th district in the Senate of Hawaii.[3] Slom won the election, defeating Ikeda, 12,191 votes to 7,312.[3] The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the election a "huge election night upset".[4]

Slom is the sole Republican in the 25-member Senate since it reconvened after the 2010 elections and is, therefore, minority leader. Slom technically serves on all sixteen Senate committees but obviously he cannot physically attend all of the meetings. He must depend on a Democratic colleague to second a motion that he makes on the Senate floor or the motion will die for lack of a second. Lynn Finnegan, an outgoing Republican member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, describes Slom's challenge as communicating with Republican constituents across the state who will pressure Democratic lawmakers to consider alternative proposals on some issues.[5]

A second Republican senator, Fred Hemmings, did not seek reelection in 2010 and was replaced by a Democrat. No other U.S. state's legislative body has just one member of the minority party, although the Council of the District of Columbia has only Democrats and independents.

Education

Slom received an LL.B from La Salle Law School in 1966 and a BA in Government/Economics from the University of Hawaii in 1963.[6]

Political experience and activities

Slom holds the following positions in the Hawaii State Senate:


Current legislative committees and subcommittees

Slom is a member of the following committees:

Slom is a member of the following subcommittee:

References


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