Gene Ward
Gene Ward | |
|---|---|
 Ward in 2017 | |
| Minority Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives | |
| In office November 9, 2018 – November 3, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Andria Tupola |
| Succeeded by | Val Okimoto |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives | |
| In office November 7, 2006 – March 31, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | William Stonebreaker |
| Succeeded by | Joe Gedeon |
| Constituency | 17th district (2006–2022) 18th district (2022–2025) |
| In office November 1990 – November 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Hirayama |
| Succeeded by | Bertha Leong |
| Constituency | 22nd district (1990–1992) 16th district (1992–1998) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1943 Conneaut, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 2025 (aged 82) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA, MA, PhD) |
| Website | Official website |
Gene Rinna Ward (March 9, 1943 – April 4, 2025) was an American politician and Republican member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, serving in that body from 1990 to 1998 and 2006 to 2025. He previously served as the Minority Leader from 2018 to 2020. He was a Vietnam veteran and former Peace Corps Country Director in East Timor. He also served with the United Nations in Malawi, Africa and was a presidential appointee to the USAID during the George W. Bush administration.
On March 21, 2025, after nearly 27 years of public service, Ward announced his retirement on March 31 due to health issues. Until his retirement, he was the longest-serving member of the Hawaii House of Representatives.
Background
Ward was born on March 9, 1943. He earned his BA, his MA in urban sociology, and his PhD in business sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His dissertation was a comparative study of Hawaiians in business compared to Europeans in business in Hawaii.
Ward died on April 4, 2025, at the age of 82.
Electoral history
- 1990: Ward initially won the November 6, 1990, general election.
- 1992: Ward was unopposed for the District 16 September 21, 1992, Republican primary, winning with 1,508 votes, and won the November 3, 1992, general election with 6,562 votes (69.5%) against Democratic nominee Steve Boggs.
- 1994: Ward won the September 17, 1994, Republican primary, and won the November 8, 1994, general election with 7,213 votes (78.7%) against Democratic nominee Mark Auerbach.
- 1996: Ward was unopposed for the September 21, 1996, Republican primary, winning with 3,088 votes, and won the November 5, 1996, general election with 6,323 votes (68.3%) against Democratic nominee William Hoshijo.
- 1998: To challenge incumbent Democratic United States Representative Neil Abercrombie for Hawaii's 1st congressional district seat, Ward won the September 21, 1996, Republican primary, winning with 54,844 votes (65.6%) against Quentin Kawānanakoa, but lost the November 5, 1996, general election to Abercrombie, who held the seat until 2010.
- 2006: When Republican Representative William Stonebreaker retired and left the District 17 seat open, Ward was unopposed for the September 26, 2006, Republican primary, winning with 855 votes, and won the November 7, 2006, general election with 5,450 votes (55.1%) against Democratic nominee A.J. Halagao.
- 2008: Ward was unopposed for the September 20, 2008, Republican primary, winning with 2,142 votes, and the November 4, 2008, general election with 6,979 votes (55.3%) against Democratic nominee Amy Monk.
- 2010: Ward was unopposed for both the September 18, 2010, Republican primary, winning with 1,741 votes, and the November 2, 2010, general election.
- 2012: Ward was unopposed for both the August 11, 2012, Republican primary, winning with 2,039 votes, and the November 6, 2012, general election.
- 2014: Ward and Democrat Chris Stump, neither of whom were opposed in their party's August 9, 2014, primary election, faced each other in the November 4, 2014, general election, with Ward winning 7,535 votes (71.6%) to 2,555 (24.3%).
References
- ↑ Thomas, Kay (2025-03-22). "State Rep. Gene Ward announces retirement due to health setbacks". www.hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ Staff, HPR News (2025-04-04). "Longtime state Rep. Gene Ward of Hawaiʻi Kai dies at 82". Hawai'i Public Radio. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ "Gene Ward's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Gene Ward, Hawaii statesman, dies at 82". KITV. April 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 19, 1992" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 4. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 3, 1992" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 17, 1994" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 1994" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 21, 1996" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 4. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 5, 1996" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 21, 1996" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 5, 1996" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election 2006 – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 26, 2006" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election 2006 – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 7, 2006" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election 2008 – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 20, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 4, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election 2010 – State of Hawaii – Statewide September 18, 2010" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "General Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 2, 2010" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide August 11, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Hawaii General 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 6, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Primary Election 2014 – State of Hawaii – Statewide: Final Summary Report" (PDF). Hawaii Office of Elections. August 9, 2014. p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "General Election 2014 – State of Hawaii – Statewide: Final Summary Report" (PDF). Hawaii Office of Elections. November 4, 2014. p. 1. Retrieved April 18, 2026.