27 Facts About Rick Blangiardi

Richard John Blangiardi was born on September 15,1946 and is an American television executive and politician from the state of Hawaii.

Rick Blangiardi was elected mayor of Honolulu in the 2020 mayoral election, and took office on January 2,2021.

Rick Blangiardi previously worked in the television industry and helped consolidate KHNL and KGMB into Hawaii News Now.

Rick Blangiardi won reelection to a second mayoral term in 2024.

Rick Blangiardi was born on September 15,1946, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was raised there in a tenement.

When his mother moved back to Massachusetts, Rick Blangiardi transferred to Springfield College, where he played for the football team and completed his Bachelor of Science in physical education and biology in 1969.

Rick Blangiardi was the defensive coordinator and associate head coach under Price.

Rick Blangiardi was vice president and general manager of KIKU from 1984 to 1989.

Rick Blangiardi left Hawaii to become the general manager of KING-TV in Seattle in October 1989.

Rick Blangiardi was fired in February 1992, when the station was sold to new owners.

Rick Blangiardi was hired as president of River City Broadcasting in St Louis in 1994, and after its sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group, became the chief executive officer of the Premier Horse Network in 1997.

In 2002, Rick Blangiardi returned to Hawaii as the senior vice president and general manager of KHON-TV and KGMB.

Rick Blangiardi left KHON in 2006 when Emmis Communications sold the station.

Rick Blangiardi delivered his first State of the City address on March 15,2021.

Rick Blangiardi outlined his agenda and goals for the city, as well as discussing his budget plan and accomplishments so far.

Rick Blangiardi's outlined goals included expanding affordable housing, closing the funding gap in the Honolulu Rail Project, lifting pandemic restrictions, revitalizing the city's Chinatown, and protecting the city from the effects of climate change.

Rick Blangiardi presented a $2.9 billion budget to the City Council on March 2,2022.

Rick Blangiardi had to make budget cuts due to deficits created by a lack of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 31,2023, Rick Blangiardi signed a bill into law that established "gun-free" locations to prevent concealed-carry at a number of public places.

Rick Blangiardi announced in early 2023 that he would be running for re-election.

Rick Blangiardi implemented a restriction on the number of people allowed in some gatherings: 10 for indoor events and 25 for outdoor events.

About two months after the "Safe Access O'ahu" and gathering restrictions went into effect, Rick Blangiardi began to walk them back.

Rick Blangiardi received some backlash for easing the policy, due to an increase of positive COVID cases as a result of the then-increasing Omicron variant.

Rick Blangiardi voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, and said, "I think a lot of his policies, despite his personal antics, have been effective".

Rick Blangiardi said that he has voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past.

Rick Blangiardi is a board member for the YMCA, American Red Cross, and a Hawaii food bank.

Rick Blangiardi grew up in an immigrant household speaking Italian and English.