Lynn McCrory, the Kaua‘i representative on the Board of Land and Natural Resources for the past eight years, ends her service Wednesday, June 30. Ron Agor, a Kaua‘i architect, is president of the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce and head
Lynn McCrory, the Kaua‘i representative on the Board of Land and Natural Resources for the past eight years, ends her service Wednesday, June 30.
Ron Agor, a Kaua‘i architect, is president of the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce and head of the Republican Party of Kauai, was officially nominated last Friday by Gov. Linda Lingle to replace McCrory.
The nomination requires approval by the state Senate. The ratification process begins next week.
“It’s sad to be losing her, but we appreciate her term on the board,” said Deborah Ward, spokesperson for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, of McCrory.
“She has been very fair, thoughtful, and showed concern for various issues,” Ward said.
McCrory has been serving on the board since August, 1996, nominated by former Gov. Ben Cayetano. She is also president of Pahio Resorts in Princeville. She is prevented by term limits from being nominated for a third term.
Agor was to appear before members of the state Senate Water Land, and Agriculture Committee on Friday.
Committee members will decide either to accept the nomination and send it to the full Senate, or reject it, said state Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye, D-Hilo, committee chairperson.
When asked what she looks for in a BLNR member, Inouye said, “It has always been my wish to have a good cross section of the public on the committee.”
Agor, 55, owner of Agor Architecture in Kukui Grove Commercial Village, declined to comment on the nomination until next week, after the Senate’s decision.
State Sen. Gary Hooser, D- Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, also declined comment.
Agor, of Lihu‘e, serves on the boards of the YMCA of Kauai, Kauai Senior Centers, and the Kauai Association of Architects.
He unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the board of directors of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative in the election that formed the original board in February last year.
Lingle also nominated Agor for the seat on the statewide Board of Registration, representing the islands of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
Administratively attached to the state Department of Accounting and General Services, the Board of Registration hears and decides appeals from those who challenge voter-registration lists and other voter challenges.
According to the DLNR Web site, the BLNR, administratively attached to the DLNR, among other things regulates the use of all state land in Hawai‘i.
Peter Young, BLNR chair, is also DLNR chair.
The BLNR is composed of six members, one each from Kaua‘i, Maui, O‘ahu and the Big Island, and two at large, one of whom is the chairperson (Young).
No more than three members of the board may be from the same political party.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
