Sam Slom

Sam Slom
Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate
In office
November 6, 2010 – November 8, 2016
Preceded byFred Hemmings
Succeeded byKurt Fevella (2018)
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 9th district
In office
November 5, 1996 – November 8, 2016
Preceded byDonna R. Ikeda
Succeeded byStanley Chang
Personal details
Born
Samuel Morgan Slom

(1942-04-13)April 13, 1942
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 2023(2023-05-21) (aged 81)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BA)
La Salle University (LLB)

Samuel Morgan Slom (April 13, 1942 – May 21, 2023) was an American politician and a member of the Hawaii Senate, where he represented the 9th District (which included Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala and Diamond Head on the island of Oahu) from 1996 to 2016.[1] Between 2010 and 2016, Slom was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. He was a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Early life and education

Slom was raised in a Reform Jewish family[2] and received an LL.B from La Salle Law School in 1966 and a BA in Government/Economics from the University of Hawaii in 1963.[3]

Career

Slom served as chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii.[4] From 1983 until 2014, Slom served as the president and executive director of Smart Business Hawaii, a chamber of commerce that said it was more small business-oriented than the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.[5][6]

In 1996, Slom challenged incumbent Democrat Donna R. Ikeda to represent the 8th district in the Senate of Hawaii.[7] Slom won the election, defeating Ikeda, 12,191 votes to 7,312.[7] The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the election a "huge election night upset".[8][9]

Former Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang defeated Slom in the 2016 elections, which made the Senate of Hawaii the only legislative chamber in the United States with a single party holding all seats.[10] Slom received 47% of the vote.[11]

Death

Slom died on May 21, 2023, at the age of 81.[12]

Political experience and activities

Slom held the following positions in the Hawaii State Senate:

  • Senate Minority Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2010–2017
  • Minority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1996–2017
  • Vice Chairman, Senate Committee for Economic Development and Technology

Former legislative committees and subcommittees

Slom was a member of the following committees:

  • Agriculture, Member
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection, Member
  • Economic Development and Technology, Vice Chair
  • Education, Member
  • Energy and Environment, Member
  • Hawaiian Affairs, Member
  • Health, Member
  • Higher Education, Member
  • Human Services, Member
  • Judiciary and Labor, Member
  • Public Safety and Military Affairs, Member
  • Technology and the Arts, Member
  • Tourism and Government Operations, Member
  • Transportation and International Affairs, Member
  • Water and Land, Member
  • Ways and Means, Member[3]

Slom was a member of the following subcommittee:

  • Joint House and Senate Committee for Hawaii Health Connector Oversight, Member

References

  1. ^ Schaefers, Allison (22 May 2023). "Former longtime Hawaii lawmaker Sam Slom dies at age 81". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. ^ Klug, Lisa (20 July 2016). "A small island of Judaism in Hawaiian politics". Times of Israel.
  3. ^ a b "Senator Samuel 'Sam' M. Slom's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  4. ^ Yuen, Mike. "Three candidates challenging Ikeda They're branding the state senator as being out of touch with her constituents". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 21, 1996.
  5. ^ Lynch, Russ. "It's time for Hawaii to become business friendly, says the new Chamber of Commerce chief Showing Aloha Spirit for Business. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 19, 1996.
  6. ^ Davis, Chelsea (December 27, 2014). ""Voice of Hawaii small businesses" closes". Hawaii News Now.
  7. ^ a b "Hawaii Results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 6, 1996.
  8. ^ Yuen, Mike. "Election Aftermath: Collaboration may replace confrontation - One of the results of the general election could be a state Legislature with a different style". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 7, 1996.
  9. ^ "GOP has only one vote in Hawaii senate", Laredo Morning Times, Laredo, Texas, November 14, 2010, p. 13A
  10. ^ "Chang ousts Slom to create nation's only all-blue Senate". 9 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Samuel Slom".
  12. ^ Schaefers, Allison (22 May 2023). "Former longtime Hawaii lawmaker Sam Slom dies at age 81". Star Advertiser. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
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Hawaii Senate
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate
2010–2017 		Vacant
Title next held by
Kurt Fevella
2018