Benjamin J. Cayetano

Cayetano received a B.A. in political science from UCLA in 1968 and law degree from Loyola University Law School in 1971. He practiced law when he was not holding public office. In 1974 Cayetano was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives. Four years later he was elected to the state Senate, where he served until 1986, when he was elected lieutenant governor. Cayetano served two terms as lieutenant governor before being elected governor in 1994. He was reelected in 1998 and served for four years. Cayetano cut taxes to stimulate the state's economy, promoted welfare reform, affordable housing, and education. A Democrat, he was the state's first governor of Filipino ancestry. He was succeeded by Republican Linda Lingle, the first woman governor of Hawaii.