Joseph M. Souki

{{Infobox officeholder |name = Joe Souki |image = Joseph M. Souki.jpg |office = 7th and 9th Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives |term_start = January 16, 2013 |term_end = May 4, 2017 |predecessor = Calvin Say |successor = Scott Saiki |term_start1 = January 4, 1993 |term_end1 = January 4, 1999 |predecessor1 = Daniel J. Kihano |successor1 = Calvin Say |state_house2 = Hawaii |district2 = 8th |prior_term2 = 9th (1984–1992) |term_start2 = 1982<ref name="StateLegislature"/> |term_end2 = March 21, 2018<ref name="AP misconduct"/> |predecessor2 = |successor2 = Troy Hashimoto |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1933|4|25}} |birth_place = Puʻunene, Hawaii, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = Frances Borge |children = Desiree<br>Mark |alma_mater = Woodbury University |website = [http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=souki House website] }} '''Joseph "Joe" M. Souki''' (born 1933) is an American Democratic politician and former Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://portal.ehawaii.gov/government/elected-officials/house-speaker-joseph-m-souki/|title=House Speaker Joseph M. Souki|publisher=Government of Hawaii|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227045102/https://portal.ehawaii.gov/government/elected-officials/house-speaker-joseph-m-souki/|archive-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref>

He served as a Private First Class in the United States Army from 1954–1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/2598/joseph-souki-jr|title=Joseph Souki, Jr.'s Biography|publisher=Vote Smart|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408032003/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/2598/joseph-souki-jr|archive-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>

Souki replaced former Speaker Calvin Say in 2013, after organizing a coalition with both Democrats and Republicans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2012/11/sources-joe-souki-new-house-speaker/|title=Sources: Joe Souki New House Speaker|date=November 21, 2012|work=Honolulu Civil Beat|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227071643/http://www.civilbeat.com/2012/11/sources-joe-souki-new-house-speaker/|archive-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kakesako|first=Gregg K.|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/180428791.html?id=180428791|title=Souki ousts House Speaker Say with the help of Republicans|date=November 21, 2012|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227032222/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/180428791.html?id=180428791|archive-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/8272/Joe-Souki-teams-up-with-Republicans-Will-be-New-House-Speaker.aspx|title=Joe Souki teams up with Republicans, Will be New House Speaker|date=November 21, 2012|work=Hawai'i Free Press|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227031847/http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/8272/Joe-Souki-teams-up-with-Republicans-Will-be-New-House-Speaker.aspx|archive-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref> This was his second tenure as Speaker, as he had previously served from 1993 to 1999.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20557808/state-rep-joseph-souki-says-hes-next-speaker/|title=State Rep. Joseph Souki says he's next speaker|date=January 10, 2013|work=Hawaii News Now|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025338/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20557808/state-rep-joseph-souki-says-hes-next-speaker/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He represented Hawaii's 8th District since 1982, and served as Chair of the Finance Committee and the Transportation Committee. He was the primary sponsor of 825 bills.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openstates.org/person/joseph-m-souki-2FBccU3zeDm8b4wloqcIrD/|title=Joseph M. Souki|publisher=Open States}}</ref> Before becoming a politician, Souki was a real estate broker and Executive Director of the Maui Economic Opportunity.<ref name="StateLegislature">{{Cite web|url=https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=souki|title=Representative Joseph M. Souki|publisher=Hawaii State Legislature|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020161127/http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=souki|archive-date=October 20, 2013}}</ref>

Souki was accused by several women of multiple counts of sexual harassment including unwanted kissing, touching and sexual language by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. On March 21, 2018, Souki agreed to resign his seat, apologize and pay a $5,000 fine.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nagaoka|first=Ashley|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37777210/souki-to-resign-as-part-of-settlement-over-sexual-harassment-claim/|title=Former Hawaii House speaker resigns over sex harassment allegations|date=March 21, 2018|work=Hawaii News Now|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142402/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37777210/souki-to-resign-as-part-of-settlement-over-sexual-harassment-claim/|archive-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kitv.com/story/37410376/rep-joe-souki-resigns-on-accusations-of-sexual-harassment|title=Rep. Joe Souki resigns after admitting sexual harassment|date=March 21, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325003543/https://www.kitv.com/story/37410376/rep-joe-souki-resigns-on-accusations-of-sexual-harassment|archive-date=March 25, 2018|publisher=KITV}}</ref><ref name="AP misconduct">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/a3377d14856e4f4fb584509963a7a223|title=90 state lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct since 2017|date=February 2, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200408030907/https://apnews.com/a3377d14856e4f4fb584509963a7a223|archive-date=April 8, 2020|work=Associated Press}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Politics of Hawaii * Me Too movement

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Calvin Say}} {{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives|years=2013–2017}} {{s-aft|after=Scott Saiki}} |- {{s-bef|before=Daniel J. Kihano}} {{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives|years=1993–1999}} {{s-aft|after=Calvin Say}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Souki, Joseph M.}} Category:1933 births Category:Living people Category:Speakers of the Hawaii House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party members of the Hawaii House of Representatives Category:Woodbury University alumni Category:21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature