This week, the Mayor’s new Chief of Staff Andy Sugg joins host Brandi Higa on the One O‘ahu Podcast to talk about transitioning into this new role, his priorities as the Chief of Staff, and a cause he’s been supportive of for years.

A new role

On Feb. 8, 2024 Andy Sugg joined the City as Mayor Blangiardi’s new Chief of Staff. With an extensive background in local media, Sugg brings a wealth of experience to his new role and will help the administration operate with an increased sense of urgency to deliver on behalf of the people of Honolulu. But what has the transition been like? We asked Sugg on this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast.

“Someone said it’s like drinking from a firehose and I think that’s an apt description,” said Andy Sugg. “It’s been a whirlwind but I’m super excited to be here and (I’m) trying to learn as much as I can.”

Sugg previously served as a television executive in Hawai‘i and has years of experience in working alongside Mayor Blangiardi.

Chief of Staff duties

Unlike in other offices around the country, the Chief of Staff to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu does not guide department heads. Rather that is a function of the Managing Director. The current Managing Director is Mike Formby. So what is the role of the Chief of Staff?

“The number one goal of mine is to support the Mayor in everything he does,” answered Sugg regarding his priorities in this new role. He went on to describe his goal of taking the Mayor’s message out into communities across O‘ahu.

Andy Sugg will be joining the Mayor, along with the rest of his Cabinet, on a town hall tour beginning Thursday, March 21, 2024. Residents from various communities across the City and County of Honolulu are invited to participate in a series of 11 town hall meetings, where they will have the opportunity to interact directly with Mayor Blangiardi and key City officials.

Taking a stand for a cause

It is important to stand for something and give back whenever you can. “Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.” — Suzy Kassem

Andy Sugg has served on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Hawai’i and New England. He takes some time on this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast to share more about this cause.