Joshua Koshiba (born 10 December 1943) is a former member of the

Senate of Palau The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress (''Olbiil era Kelulau''). The Senate has 13 members serving four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies. No political parties exist. The most recent election was held on 3 No ...

. After his re-election in 2004, he became the longest-serving member of that body in the history of

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

. Koshiba was elected seven consecutive terms as Senator from 1980 to 2008.

Political career

Koshiba was born in

Peleliu Peleliu (or Beliliou) is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu, along with two small islands to its northeast, forms one of the sixteen states of Palau. The island is notable as the location of the Battle of Peleliu in World War II. H ...

. He graduated from the University of Guam, holding a degree in mathematics. Koshiba was first elected to the Palauan Senate in 1980. In 1984, he became chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1986, he became Senate President, a post which he held until 1991. He again chaired the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1996; in 1996, he was appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. He headed the Senate Committee on Health and Education from 2000 to 2008. On 27 March 2007 he was elected as President of the Senate to succeed

Johnny Reklai Johnny Reklai (1 July 1948 – 11 March 2007) was a Palauan businessman and politician. He was elected as the President of the Senate of Palau in April 2005. He died in a boating accident, at the time of his death he was serving as the President o ...

, who had died in a boating accident. On 25 April 2007,

Surangel S. Whipps Surangel S. Whipps (born 21 February 1941) is a Palauan businessman and politician. He served as the president of the Senate of Palau from January 2005 to April 2005, and from 25 April 2007 to 15 January 2009, and as the speaker of the House of D ...

was elected to succeed him as Senate President. In 2008, he announced his intentions to run for

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

; however, he withdrew his bid following defeat in the primary race.

References

1943 births Living people Presidents of the Senate of Palau People from Peleliu Palauan bankers {{Palau-politician-stub