Three high-level staffers in Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office resigned this week to spend more time with their families, according to a release from the governor’s office.
Communications director Josh Levinson, chief of staff Amy Asselbaye, and deputy chief of staff Andrew Aoki announced their resignations last week, not quite a year after Abercrombie was elected.
The resignations are effective at the end of the month.
Bruce Coppa, the state’s controller, has been named chief of staff.
All three of the staffer members have young children, which facilitated their resignations, Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor’s press secretary, said in a statement.
Asselbaye began working for Abercrombie 18 years ago, starting as a legislative assistant in his congressional office.
Abercrombie was a member of the U.S. House from 1986 to 1987 and from 1991 to 2010.
Aoki has worked with Abercrombie for two and a half years. His first position was deputy campaign manager in Abercrombie’s run for governor.
Abercrombie said in a statement that the staffers have “sacrificed for years on behalf of the people of Hawaii and I respect their desires to want to reconnect with their families.”
