After a rocky start last month, the Kaua‘i County Council plans to vote on a resolution to restructure its committees today at the Historic County Building. If approved as expected, the move would signal an improved spirit of collaboration and
After a rocky start last month, the Kaua‘i County Council plans to vote on a resolution to restructure its committees today at the Historic County Building.
If approved as expected, the move would signal an improved spirit of collaboration and fairness among the recently elected seven-member legislative body, officials said yesterday.
The proposed resolution resulted from a vigorous lobbying effort led by first-term councilmember Dickie Chang.
After learning there was a “wish list,” he said he volunteered to step down as a voting member on the Planning Committee to accommodate first-term councilmember Lani Kawahara’s desire.
She, in turn, agreed to a similar move with sophomore councilmember Tim Bynum. Under the proposed resolution, he will become a voting member and she an ex-officio, or non-voting member, on the Economic Development/Housing Committee.
“I just thought that was the fair thing to do,” Chang said yesterday. “When I saw there was a possibility to make everyone happy, I wanted to do that.”
The council, particularly the three members who backed Bill “Kaipo” Asing as chair, has been criticized over the past few weeks for alleged back-room dealing and playing “good ol’ boy” politics. Asing could not be reached for comment at press time.
The council chose Asing to serve as its chair in a 4-3 vote at its Nov. 24 organizational meeting, which produced a resolution that was formally approved Dec. 1.
Asing, who has served on the council 24 years, determined the lineup for the seven council committees. The committees are where the council does the bulk of its work on proposed legislation before passing it to the full council for final approval.
Under Asing’s lineup, the three members who picked him as chair — Chang, Derek Kawakami and Daryl Kaneshiro — are voting members on all seven committees. The two who backed four-term Councilman Jay Furfaro as chair — Bynum and Kawahara — are voting members on five committees.
Under the proposed resolution, which Chang said would have been impossible without Asing’s support, Bynum will be a voting member on six committees and Kawahara will be a voting member on the committee most important to her.
“I give the credit to Dickie … and the chair for allowing it,” Kawahara said. “Dickie really wanted to have a council that really represents everyone’s strengths. It really shows his willingness to work with everyone and try to get input from everyone … and how important it is to share.”
Kawahara campaigned on a progressive vision for Kaua‘i and said planning is “one of my main passions and interests.”
Bynum voiced similar sentiments.
“I appreciate the move that Dickie is making in an effort to bring equity to committee voting memberships,” he said. “The community is tired of the infighting. They want to see more collaboration.”
Kawakami will retain his seven committee memberships and Furfaro will keep his six under the proposed resolution.
When asked if he was approached to relinquish one of his committees, Kawakami said it would be unwise for a younger person to forgo such an opportunity.
“I’m happy with the lineup. I’m not going to be giving up any committees,” he said yesterday. “I’m a workaholic; I don’t give away work, I ask for more.”
Kawahara said it is a matter of “different perspectives on weaknesses and strengths.”
The council is expected to name Kawakami, who said he “totally supports” the proposed restructuring, to serve as its representative on the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties.
“Despite all the controversy with the organization, I’m ready to get down to what really matters and that’s working for the people, addressing issues and making decisions that benefit the people,” he said. “We got to stay focused on the issues. We got to keep in sight who we are working for and why we are here.”
Chang said he does not think the committees were intentionally structured “so people would get left out.”
“We’re not old school. We’re not 4-3 all the time,” he said. “We’re a new bunch of people that’s going to work hard together and with the administration.”
Bynum wanted to be a part of Housing and Kawahara wanted to be on Planning, so Chang said he looked at how the lineup might be adjusted.
“It was a no-brainer,” Chang said. “It was extremely fair and doable. That was my read from the very get-go.”
The council members have a nine-page agenda to handle today at their first regular meeting.
“I’m getting geared up,” Kawakami said. “The staff is amazing. They help out with the learning curve — sit us down, brief us on the agenda and history of the issues.”
The session is slated to start at 9 a.m. or shortly thereafter in Council Chambers. A tribute to government “nitpicker” Ray Chuan is expected to precede the meeting.
For more information, visit www.kauai.gov
