Samuel Morgan Slom (April 13, 1942 – May 21, 2023) was an American politician and a member of the Hawaii Senate, where he represented the 9th District (which included Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala and Diamond Head on the island of Oahu) from 1996 to 2016. Between 2010 and 2016, Slom was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. He was a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Early life and education Slom was raised in a Reform Jewish family and received an LL.B from La Salle Law School in 1966 and a BA in Government/Economics from the University of Hawaii in 1963.
Career Slom served as chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii.Yuen, Mike. "Three candidates challenging Ikeda They're branding the state senator as being out of touch with her constituents". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 21, 1996. From 1983 until 2014, Slom served as the president and executive director of Smart Business Hawaii, a chamber of commerce that said it was more small business-oriented than the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.Lynch, Russ. "It's time for Hawaii to become business friendly, says the new Chamber of Commerce chief Showing Aloha Spirit for Business. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 19, 1996.
In 1996, Slom challenged incumbent Democrat Donna R. Ikeda to represent the 8th district in the Senate of Hawaii."Hawaii Results". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 6, 1996. Slom won the election, defeating Ikeda, 12,191 votes to 7,312. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the election a "huge election night upset".Yuen, Mike. "Election Aftermath: Collaboration may replace confrontation - One of the results of the general election could be a state Legislature with a different style". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 7, 1996."GOP has only one vote in Hawaii senate", Laredo Morning Times, Laredo, Texas, November 14, 2010, p. 13A
Former Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang defeated Slom in the 2016 elections, which made the Senate of Hawaii the only legislative chamber in the United States with a single party holding all seats. Slom received 47% of the vote.
Death Slom died on May 21, 2023, at the age of 81.
Political experience and activities Slom held the following positions in the Hawaii State Senate: Senate Minority Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2010–2017 Minority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1996–2017 Vice Chairman, Senate Committee for Economic Development and Technology
Former legislative committees and subcommittees Slom was a member of the following committees: Agriculture, Member Commerce and Consumer Protection, Member Economic Development and Technology, Vice Chair Education, Member Energy and Environment, Member Hawaiian Affairs, Member Health, Member Higher Education, Member Human Services, Member Judiciary and Labor, Member Public Safety and Military Affairs, Member Technology and the Arts, Member Tourism and Government Operations, Member Transportation and International Affairs, Member Water and Land, Member Ways and Means, Member
Slom was a member of the following subcommittee: Joint House and Senate Committee for Hawaii Health Connector Oversight, Member
References
External links
Hawaii Senate Minority official website (archived from 2016) Hawaii State Legislature - Senator Sam Slom official government site (archived from 2015)