HONOLULU (KHON2) — Rep. Gene Ward (R) Portlock, Hawaiʻi Kai, Kalama Valley announced his retirement from the Hawaii State House of Representatives.
The House Representative said his retirement comes due to ongoing health concerns.
Rep. Ward retires with over 30 years of public service under his belt including more than 27 years working in District 18.
In a release sent to his district, he emphasized the gratitude and privilege it has been to serve his community all these years.
“Although I will not be asking for your vote again, I only kindly request that my privacy and my family’s privacy is respected,” Rep. Ward said.
Those who worked alongside him said he was always up for a good fight and would go the extra mile for any issue he felt strongly about.
Honestly, he’s been such a fixture here that this session hasn’t been the same without him. He always said, we don’t have the votes, but we have the voice. And he made himself heard almost every single day he was here. We wish him all the best going forward.
Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, House Republican Caucus Leader, District 38
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Officials said that Rep. Ward’s resignation will be official on March 31.