(AP) — Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige is appointing state Rep. Lynn DeCoite to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of former Sen. Kalani English. DeCoite currently represents Molokai, Lanai and Hana in the state House. In the Senate, she will represent those areas plus upcountry Maui. The Democrat lives on Molokai, where she is a homestead farmer. DeCoite will take office once the state Senate qualifies her and administers the oath of office. She will become the 10th woman in the Senate. Hawaiʻi law requires the governor to pick a replacement from one of three names sent him by the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.
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