Sam Slom

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.^[1] Between 2010 and 2016, Slom was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. He was a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Sam Slom
Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate
In office November 6, 2010 – November 8, 2016
Preceded by	Fred Hemmings
Succeeded by	Kurt Fevella (2018)
Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 9th district
In office November 5, 1996 – November 8, 2016
Preceded by	Donna R. Ikeda
Succeeded by	Stanley Chang
Personal details
Born	Samuel Morgan Slom (1942-04-13)April 13, 1942 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	May 21, 2023(2023-05-21) (aged 81) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BA) La Salle University (LLB)

Early life and education

Slom was raised in a Reform Jewish family^[2] 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.^[3]

Career

Slom served as chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii.^[4] 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.^[5][6]

In 1996, Slom challenged incumbent Democrat Donna R. Ikeda to represent the 8th district in the Senate of Hawaii.^[7] Slom won the election, defeating Ikeda, 12,191 votes to 7,312.^[7] The Honolulu Star-Bulletin called the election a "huge election night upset".^[8][9]

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.^[10] Slom received 47% of the vote.^[11]

Death

Slom died on May 21, 2023, at the age of 81.^[12]

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^[3]

Slom was a member of the following subcommittee:

• Joint House and Senate Committee for Hawaii Health Connector Oversight, Member