Ex-Rep. Patricia Saiki Named SBA Chief
Former GOP Rep. Patricia Saiki of Hawaii was chosen Tuesday by President Bush to head the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Saiki will succeed Susan S. Engeleiter, who recently resigned from the agency to work for Honeywell in Minneapolis.
Saiki, who served in Congress from 1986 to 1990, was defeated in her bid for a Senate seat in 1990. A former high school teacher, she also served as chairman of the Republican Party in Hawaii.
Her nomination is expected to meet Senate approval.
“We are hoping she’ll meet with the small business community soon to get our input,” said Marcia Bradford, spokeswoman for National Small Business United in Washington. “Although her background is not as a small business person, it’s important that she be a good manager.”
The long-vacant position of chief counsel for advocacy for the SBA is also expected to be filled soon. Samuel N. Hope III, a Milwaukee business owner and small business advocate, is under consideration for that post.
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