Will Espero
Vice President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate
In office
November 5, 2014 – November 10, 2016
Preceded byRon Kouchi
Succeeded byMichelle Kidani
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 19th district
In office
November 5, 2002 – May 31, 2018
Succeeded byJon Yoshimura
Personal details
Born (1960-11-06) November 6, 1960 (age 63)
Yokosuka, Japan
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenSean, Jason, Jasmine Tiana
ResidenceʻEwa Beach, Hawaiʻi
Alma materSeattle University (BS, 1982)

Will Espero (born November 6, 1960) is an American politician who served as a state senator for the 19th district of the State of Hawaiʻi from 2002 until 2018. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Born on November 6, 1960, at a United States naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, Espero is the son of Victor and Paulina Espero. Originally from Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, Victor served in the United States Navy for 21 years while his wife, Paulina, originally from Santiago, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, retired as a licensed practical nurse. As entrepreneurs, Victor and Paulina also operated a restaurant, catering service, and carehomes.[1]

Growing up in a military family, Espero lived in Vallejo, California, Jacksonville, Florida, Athens, Georgia, Norfolk, Virginia, Oak Harbor, Washington, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Naples, Italy, and Yokosuka, Japan.[1]

Espero attended Seattle University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 1982. Later that year, he moved to Hawaiʻi and established a home. He worked in the finance and banking industry, property management, local home development, and the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaiʻi. A few years later in 1987, he entered politics, working with former mayor Frank Fasi and his administration as the executive secretary of the City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission.[1]

Political career

From 1987 to 1994, Will Espero was an appointee of Mayor Frank Fasi. He was the executive secretary of the Neighborhood Commission in charge of Oahu's Neighborhood Boards.

In December 1999, Espero was appointed to the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives by Governor Ben Cayetano to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of then-representative Paul Oshiro. In 2002, he ran a successful campaign and was elected into the Hawaiʻi State Senate.[2] He represented District 20, which stretched from lower Waipahu to ʻEwa Beach, where Espero resides. After the reapportionment of Hawaiʻi's districts, Espero became the senator for District 19 which now includes 'Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, 'Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, and a portion of 'Ewa Villages.[2]

Espero had formerly served as the Vice President of the Hawaiʻi Senate.[3] He had also served as the Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PGM). He was a member of both the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs (TIA) and Ways and Means (WAM).[2]

Espero was instrumental in getting the Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board (2017) and the Law Enforcement Standards Board (2018).[4]

Leadership positions

Legislation introduced

Community involvement

Awards

2014 U.S. House of Representatives election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii, 2014 § District 1

On Sunday, July 21, 2013, Espero announced his candidacy campaign for the 1st Congressional District of Hawaiʻi, the seat Hawaiʻi U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa vacated to run against Hawaiʻi U.S. Senator Brian Schatz.[17] In the Democratic primary, Espero lost the party nomination to Mark Takai.

2018 lieutenant gubernatorial election

Main article: Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2018

In September 2017, Espero tweeted that he would run for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii.[18] He lost the Democratic primary to his colleague Sen. Josh Green.

Personal life

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Since his retirement in 2018 from state government, Espero has written two novels. Passion In Paradise and Vengeance In Paradise are both novels about prominent Hawaii families involved in politics, business, love, and a lot of drama. He has also taken up acrylic painting with artwork displayed in the Pamana Art Exhibition 2023 at Honolulu's City Hall and the Matchbox Plus XIX Miniature Art Show (11/23-1/24 Cedar Street Galleries).[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c Win With Will, [1], Biography - Senator Will Espero.
  2. ^ a b c d Espero for Congress, [2], Espero for Congress - About Will, 2013.
  3. ^ Eagle, Nathan (5 May 2015). "Kouchi Takes Gavel as New Senate President After 'Bloodless Coup'". Honolulu Civil Beat. Honolulu. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. ^ Wiens, Richard (2023-04-23). "Q&A With Will Espero: True Reform 'Takes A Champion'". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  5. ^ a b c Senator Will Espero, [3], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2013.
  6. ^ Senate Bill 2247, [4], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2012
  7. ^ Senate Bill 112, [5], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2012
  8. ^ Senate Bill 2678, [6], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2012
  9. ^ Senate Bill 883, [7], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2011
  10. ^ Senate Bill 52, [8], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2011
  11. ^ Senate Bill 2139, [9], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2010.
  12. ^ Senate Bill 2441, [10], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2010.
  13. ^ Senate Bill 1222, [11], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2009.
  14. ^ Senate Bill 2456, [12], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2008.
  15. ^ Senate Bill 2080, [13], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2008.
  16. ^ Senate Bill 1378, [14], Hawaiʻi State Legislature. 2005.
  17. ^ Garcia, Oksar, [15], "The Associated Press." May 2, 2013.
  18. ^ @WillEspero (September 1, 2017). "After 26 years in county & state gov't, I have decided to run for Lt. Governor in 2018. It's been an honor to be able to serve our state" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

Willespero.com

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