Gov. David Ige appointed state Rep. Lynn DeCoite of Molokai to the open Senate District 7 seat on Thursday to replace longtime Sen. J. Kalani English, who retired May 1.

DeCoite had served as English’s counterpart in the House since February 2015, when Ige appointed her to the District 13 seat left vacant by the late Mele Carroll.

“I’m excited to have Sen. Lynn DeCoite now represent the communities of Lanai, Molokai, Hana and Upcountry Maui,” Ige said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “I’m excited to be able to continue our partnership in serving the constituents in those communities. I think you are all aware that you have a terrific advocate for your community, and we will continue to work to help keep you healthy and safe.”

Ige said that DeCoite “has remained active in her community” over the years and has advocated for issues such as drought conditions on Lanai and Molokai, overtourism on Hana Highway and improvements in testing and vaccinations in her district.

The governor had until June 30 to pick a new senator from among three nominees chosen by the Maui County Democratic Party’s Senate District 7 selection body. Party precinct officials and district council officers interviewed six candidates on May 15 and nominated DeCoite along with Maui County Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura and Maui resident Leo Caires, a community leader, agricultural business owner and renewable energy executive.

Ige said he “had a difficult time” making the decision but felt that DeCoite’s legislative experience “would serve the community best.”

“I am honored and taken aback by today’s appointment by Governor Ige,” DeCoite said during the news conference. “I want to thank you in trusting me in this Senate position of Senate District 7.”

She also thanked her staff, friends and family, along with English.

“I look forward with working with each and every one of you to continue to put our district and our community first and foremost,” she added.

DeCoite, a sweet potato farmer, had been endorsed by English to take his seat and was considered the front-runner, fellow candidates said. English, a lawmaker for 25 years and Senate majority leader since 2014, announced that he would retire May 1, citing long-term effects of COVID-19.

The two Democratic lawmakers worked closely together as Senate District 7 and House District 13 cover roughly the same territory of East Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, though the Senate district also includes Upcountry Maui.

In her new role as senator, DeCoite said her initial focus is to “first settle in,” but that her top priority will always be her district as well as the state at large.

“I will continue to work with my community, work with my constituents, and of course the priority is to try and actually get a flight back home to Molokai because there is no flights leaving Honolulu for the next two days back to the island of Molokai to see my family,” she said.

The state budget and COVID-19 vaccinations also continue to be at the top of her priority list, as well as transitioning businesses back and getting the economy up and running amid the pandemic.

Traffic in East Maui has also been an issue “for many, many years,” DeCoite said, but state officials have been trying to take action, putting up signs along Hana Highway with stiff fines for illegal parking and setting up a Maui Wayfinding system for reservations at Waianapanapa State Park, efforts that English was also involved in.

She said funding should be put toward the Wayfinding system and that fees collected from traffic violations be put toward enforcement, which is under county jurisdiction.

DeCoite’s appointment makes her one of 10 female senators in the 25-member Senate, the most women ever to be serving in the chamber at one time, Sen. President Ronald Kouchi said.

“I am proud that we are able to increase the diversity of our membership, and I look forward to working with Senator DeCoite in her new role,” Kouchi said.

DeCoite will serve out the remainder of English’s term with the next election for the seat in 2022. She indicated Thursday that she intends to run.

As for her now-vacant House seat, she said that “at this time, I don’t have a person on the top of my head” to endorse as her replacement. However, she would like to see candidates who have been involved with issues in the district, who want to work and who are open-minded.

On Thursday, the Maui Democratic Party announced that candidacy statements for those interested in the House District 13 seat will be due at 11:59 p.m. June 30.

Applications are available online at bit.ly/house13app or as a Word document at bit.ly/hd13wordapp. Candidates can also request applications by emailing vacancy@ hawaiidemocrats.org.

The 28 party officers of the Democratic Party House District 13 District Council will convene at 10 a.m. July 3 on Zoom to consider the applications and determine which three names to forward to the governor, who will then have until Aug. 16 to make an appointment.

Residents interested in the House District 13 seat are expected to submit their credentials and reasons for appointment to the position, evidence of party participation and verified signatures of at least five party members within the district in support of their candidacy.

“This is a great example of grassroots democracy in action, and we look forward to an open process that is accessible to all, that will allow us to send to the governor three strong and effective candidates who represent the priorities and platform of the district’s Democrats and who understand the issues and aloha of our unique canoe district,” said Jonathan Starr, who will be leading the selection process as chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s House District 13 Council.

Stephanie Ohigashi, chairwoman of the Maui Democratic Party, wished DeCoite “much success” in her new position.

“Lynn DeCoite has always been a vocal and effective advocate for the unique needs of Maui, Molokai and Lanai, and will proudly build upon the legacy of Senator English,” Ohigashi said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.