CONGRESSMAN ED CASE

Congressman Ed Case represents 650,000 people, the only member of congress with such number, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Case’s job entails that—Hawaii being 5000 miles from the DC—federal budgets are being spent “appropriately in Hawaii in the right programs and at the right amounts”, making his role vital in the state’s development and progress.

In this exclusive Greater Good Radio interview—his first media appearance after his announcement of running for senate—Ed Case speaks about his role as Hawaii’s advocate to the U.S. federal government.

He also shares with us how his family became instrumental in his running for public office.

“I was raised to provide some form of public service. I mean, my parents cared deeply about their community, they still do, they’re still there,” Case says. “They’re still active in their communities. They were on a range of joint efforts to help other communities, so my household was a public service household.”

Evan and Kari talk to Congressman Ed Case about how he has become a representative and his reasons for getting a career in government, plus, his most memorable and exciting moments in politics.

BIO:
CONGRESSMAN ED CASE: Roots, Experience, Family, Community

* Born and raised on the Island of Hawai‘i
* Fourth generation in Hawai‘i: O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island
* 53 years old
* Husband and father
* Educated in public and private schools
* Twenty years of private sector experience
* Twenty years of government experience
* U.S. Congress (Spark Matsunaga)
* Hawai‘i Supreme Court (William Richardson)
* Hawai‘i State Legislator (Majority Leader)
* U.S. Congressman

Personal
Born Hilo, Territory of Hawai‘i, September 27, 1952
Eldest of six children of Jim (born Lihu‘e) and Suzanne (born Missouri) Case
Grandson of Hib and Betty Case of Kaua‘i (moved to Kaua‘i 1919)
Great-grandson of Judge Daniel and Kathryn Case of Maui
(moved to Hawai‘i 1896; Maui 1903-1946)
Married to the former Audrey Nakamura, daughter of Rev. James Saburo (born Honolulu) and Magdalene Hirata (born Kona) Nakamura
Four children: David (22), Megan (20), James (17) and David (15)

Education
Waiakea-Kai and Keaukaha Elementary Schools, Hilo (K-6th)
Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Kamuela (grad. 1970)
Williams College, MA (B.A. 1975)
University of California/Hastings College of Law, San Francisco (J.D. 1981)

Private Sector Experience
Attorney, Carlsmith Ball, Honolulu (1983-2002)
Partner (1989-2002)
Hawai‘i managing partner (1992-94)

Government Experience
Legislative Assistant, U.S. Congressman/Senator Spark Matsunaga, Washington, D.C. (1975-78)
Law Clerk, Department of Labor, State of Hawai‘i (1979)
Law Clerk, Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice William Richardson (1981-82)
Manoa Neighborhood Board (1985-89), Chair, 1987-89
Hawai‘i State House of Representatives, Manoa (1994-2002)
Chair, Committee on Hawaiian Affairs (1997-98)
Majority Leader (1999-2000)
U.S. Congressman (2002-present)

Other Employment
Messenger/office boy; laborer/container yard, tire company, construction/masonry; “jackeroo” (cowboy)/sheep-cattle ranch; youth counselor/summer camp

Selected Awards
Legislator of the Year, Honolulu Weekly (1995)
New Economy Legislator of the Year, Hawai‘i Technology & Trade Assn. (2000)
Legislator of the Year, Small Business Hawai‘i (2000)
Aiting Kaibigan Progress Award, United Filipino Council Hawai‘i (2003)
Small Business Advocate, Small Business Survival Committee (2004)
Koa Award/Elected Official of the Year, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i (2005)

Hobbies and Interests
Outdoor activities, including running, bodysurfing and sailing
Reading, especially biography and history

Links:
Ed Case Site

Listen on Youtube: