French
DeutschSonny Ganaden
Sonny Ganaden | |
|---|---|
 Ganaden in 2023 | |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 30th District | |
| Assumed office November 3, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Romeo Munoz Cachola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ernesto Montemayor Ganaden |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Kalihi, Hawaii[1] |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (J.D.) |
Ernesto Montemayor "Sonny" Ganaden is an American attorney and politician who has served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives' 30th district in 2020.
Background and education[edit]
Ernesto Montemayor Ganaden[2] is a second generation Filipino American. Ganaden received his degree in Political Science and Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[3] In 2006, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's William S. Richardson School of Law.[4]
Legal and academic career[edit]
As an attorney, Ganaden defended the rights of Native Hawaiian elders who were arrested for protesting the construction of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope.[5] In 2013, Ganaden was the leader writer on the Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force Report,[6] which concluded that Native Hawaiians were disproportionately and unfairly overrepresented in Hawaiian prisons.[7] Ganaden has criticized the existence of private prisons and argued that in "communities where basic human needs are met, crime is rare".[8]
Ganaden was previously an instructor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, teaching in the departments of American studies and ethnic studies.[9] Ganaden contributed an essay to Detours: A Decolonial Guide to Hawai’i, where he wrote about King Kamehameha I's impact on modern Hawaiian law.[10]
Hawaii House of Representatives[edit]
Elections[edit]
In 2018, Ganaden ran to represent District 30 in of the Hawaii House of Representatives, where he faced incumbent Romeo Munoz Cachola in the Democratic primary.[11] Cachola narrowly defeated Ganaden by a 51-vote margin.[12]
In 2020, Ganaden ran for the seat once again, defeating incumbent Cachola in the Democratic primary[13] and defeating Republican Tess Quillingking in the general election.[14] During the 2020 campaign, Ganaden spoke out against proposed austerity measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
Tenure[edit]
In office, Ganaden has called for the United States Navy to be investigated for potentially misleading regulators about a fuel release into Pearl Harbor, which is part of Ganaden's district.[16] Ganaden is a member of the Progressive Legislative Caucus, a coalition of left-wing members of the Hawaii Legislature.[17]
References[edit]
- ^ "Candidate Q&A: State House District 30 — Sonny Ganaden". Honolulu Civil Beat. September 25, 2020.
- ^ "February 2008 Examination For Admission To The Bar Of The State Of Hawai'i" (PDF). Supreme Court of Hawaii. February 2008.
- ^ "Ganaden for Hawaii". Ganaden for Hawaii. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Nakaso, Dan; Kaya, Travis (July 9, 2010). "The 'CJ' is saluted at school". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Mauna Kea, Mass Incarceration, and Democracy". HAPA: Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Election: Ernesto "Sonny" Ganaden". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 18, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "The Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force Report" (PDF). Office of Hawaiian Affairs. July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Time To End Mass Incarceration In Hawaii". Honolulu Civil Beat. July 9, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Arakaki, Marc. "Legislature congratulates ethnic studies on golden anniversary". University of Hawaiʻi System News. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Much more than a tropical paradise: This new travel guide will 'decolonize' the way you look at Hawaii". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Lee, Suevon (August 21, 2018). "Elections Suit Accuses State Lawmaker Of Voter Fraud And Intimidation". Honolulu Civil Beat.
- ^ "Cachola, Ganaden Have Rematch To Represent Kalihi District In Hawaii House". Honolulu Civil Beat. July 30, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "With huge voter turnout in 2020 primary, some surprises emerge in key races". HawaiiNewsNow.
- ^ "2020 Hawaii State House – District 30 Election Results". The Gainesville Sun.
- ^ "Candidate Q&A: State House District 30 — Ernesto Ganaden". Honolulu Civil Beat. September 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Lawmakers Call For Investigation Into Whether Navy Misled Regulators On Red Hill". Honolulu Civil Beat. October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Fawcett, Denby (January 25, 2021). "Chad Blair: New Progressive Caucus Hopes To Be A Force At The Legislature". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved November 24, 2021.