Les Kondo
2016 - Present
2024
8
Les Kondo is the Hawaii State Auditor. Kondo assumed office on May 1, 2016. Kondo's term ended on May 1, 2024.
Kondo's term expired in May 2024, but he remains in this position until he is re-appointed or another appointment is made.[1]
Biography
After completing his education, Kondo worked as a clerk for Hawaii Chief Justice Herman T. F. Lum. He then went on to work as an attorney in private practice. Kondo entered public service in 2003, when then-Gov. Linda Lingle (R) appointed him director of the Office of Information Practices. In this role, Kondo was responsible for administering the state's Sunshine law and public records law.[2]
In 2007, Gov. Lingle appointed Kondo to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, where he served until he was selected to head the Hawaii State Ethics Commission by the five state ethics commissioners in January 2011.[2][3]
Kondo previously served as the head of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and was a member of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.[4]
Education
- B.S. in engineering, Northwestern University
- J.D., William S. Richardson School of Law[2]
Political career
Hawaii State Auditor (2016-present)
Kondo was selected to be the new Hawaii State Auditor by the Hawaii State Legislature to an eight-year term beginning May 1, 2016. Kondo was reportedly recommended by Senate President Ronald Kouchi (D).[5] Kondo succeeded Jan Yamane, who had been serving as acting auditor since 2012.[2] Upon his appointment, Kondo outlined his priorities for the office:
| “ | My expectation is that the state auditor, just like the state ethics commission, is there to foster confidence in state government, to make sure that state money and state agencies are operating as efficiently and as effectively as they’re supposed to.[4][6] | ” |
Executive Director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission (2011-2016)
Kondo was unanimously selected by the state's 5 ethics commissioners to head the Hawaii State Ethics Commission in 2011. He also served as the commission's chief legal counsel. He remained in that post until 2016, when he was named state auditor. The commission administers and enforces Hawaii's ethics code, which applies to all state employees and officials, excluding justices and judges.[2]
Criticism from Hawaii House Speaker Joseph Souki
Hawaii House Speaker Joseph Souki (D) wrote a letter to the commission criticizing a number of ethics rules implemented by Kondo, including one that prohibited state lawmakers from accepting gifts or meals of "substantial value."
In his letter, Souki objected to what he called “controversial directives or recommendations," and argued that such changes should be made through legislation, rather than coming from the commission:
| “ | I continue to see unilateral imposition of restrictions, often based neither on historical practices nor prior Commission opinions, but justified on the basis that the Ethics Code is to be liberally construed.[7][6] | ” |
Although Souki sent the letter when the commission was reviewing Kondo's progress and deciding whether to retain his as executive director, Souki insisted that he did not mean to influence the commission's decision. The commission decided to retain Kondo in 2015.[7]
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (2007-2011)
Gov. Linda Lingle (R) appointed Kondo to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in 2007 to complete the term of former commissioner Wayne Kimura, who had retired. Kondo completed Kimura's term, which expired in 2008, and then continued to serve on the commission until he was appointed executive director of the State Ethics Commission.[3]
Recent news
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See also
| Hawaii | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Civil Beat, "The Sunshine Blog: Hawaii Elections Chief Is Hanging on to His Job — Barely," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Honolulu Civil Beat, "CIVIL BEAT TOPICS: Les Kondo," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Biz Journals, "Lingle appoints Leslie Kondo to PUC," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 KHON, "Lawmakers appoint Les Kondo as new state auditor," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Washington Times, "Hawaii Legislature to vote on new state auditor," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Civil Beat: Honolulu, "Why Is House Speaker Joe Souki Going After Ethics Director Les Kondo?" accessed August 17, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Hawaii State Auditor 2016-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Executive Director of the Hawaii Ethics Commission 2011-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Hawaii Public Utilities Commissioner 2007-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
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