LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday announced his appointment of Kaua‘i County Councilman Derek Kawakami to represent House District 14. He will fill the vacancy created March 14 when former Rep. Mina Morita stepped down after the Senate confirmed
LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday announced his appointment of Kaua‘i County Councilman Derek Kawakami to represent House District 14.
He will fill the vacancy created March 14 when former Rep. Mina Morita stepped down after the Senate confirmed her as chair of the state Public Utilities Commission.
“Derek has shown he is committed to public service and I believe he will do a great job of serving the people of Kaua‘i in the House of Representatives,” Abercrombie said in a press release.
The Kaua‘i Democratic Party last week sent Abercrombie a list of three nominees, including Kawakami, Neil Clendeninn and Foster Ducker. The governor had to pick Morita’s replacement from that list, which was whittled down from eight applicants.
Kawakami’s appointment means he will have to resign from the council, a seat he has held since December 2008.
“He is obviously going to be missed,” Council Chair Jay Furfaro said. “He’s made some wonderful contributions to our county.”
Furfaro said he looks forward to Kawakami’s success in the House. District 14 includes Hanalei, Anahola, Kealia, Kapa‘a and Waipouli.
Budget reviews
Kawakami’s new job creates a vacancy on the seven-member council less than a week before the county budget departmental review process begins. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. is scheduled to appear before the council Friday to present his proposed $164.98 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2012, which starts July 1.
Kawakami is a member of six out of seven council committees. He is chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and vice chair of the Committee of the Whole, which oversees the budget review process.
The possibility of a council newcomer joining the legislative body during the budget review sessions does not worry Furfaro.
“We have a reasonable mix there of people with experience,” he said of his colleagues on the council. “I think budgeting, whether it’s in the private sector or in the government, it is a fair understanding that it’s about making sure that the revenues get balanced.”
Furfaro said there are several people who have contacted him, expressing interest in filling Kawakami’s seat.
Kawakami’s swearing-in at the Capitol will trigger an official notice from Abercrombie and House Speaker Calvin Say.
“We then have to post a meeting of the council for our replacement process,” said Furfaro, explaining that the council has to give at least a six-day notice for such a meeting.
In the special meeting the council will receive confirmation of Kawakami’s resignation and have a discussion among members about possible replacements, said Furfaro, adding that he would have to check with the county attorney to confirm how a replacement would be chosen.
Kawakami graduated from Kaua‘i High School and earned a BA in business administration from Chaminade University in Honolulu. His family is well-known for owning and operating the Big Save supermarket chain.
Kawakami did not respond by press time to a request for comments.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@thegardenisland.com.
