Louise Kim McCoy To Be Named Gov’s New Communications Czar

Breaking news out of the governor’s office. From our Capitol Watch blog:

Civil Beat has learned that Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle’s spokeswoman, Louise Kim McCoy, will be Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s new communications director.

The governor’s current spokeswoman, Donalyn Dela Cruz, said Friday she could not confirm if Kim McCoy has been named to replace Jim Boersema, who stepped down last month. Dela Cruz said the administration has been interviewing for the position and that an announcement of a hire will be forthcoming.

But Jim Fulton, Carlisle’s chief of staff, confirmed the hire.

Dela Cruz is leaving the administration next week to handle communications for the Department of Education. Carlisle was defeated in his re-election bid in August.

Kim McCoy will be Abercrombie’s third communications director in less than two years. Her husband, public relations executive Jim McCoy, handled communications for Abercrombie’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

—Chad Blair and Nick Grube