Mansho, Mirikitani
will chair important
Council committees

The new five-member majority
solidifies its power under
Mufi Hannemann

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

City Council members Rene Mansho and Andy Mirikitani are getting plum committee assignments as a new five-member majority solidifies power under new Chairman Mufi Hannemann.

Mansho will chair the Planning and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Intergovernmental issue is a longtime Mansho interest. Hannemann had headed the now-defunct Economic Development, Planning and Tourism Committee.

Mirikitani takes over a new Public Safety, Transportation and Environment Committee.

Previously, transportation was discussed in the Planning Committee; environmental concerns in the Public Works Committee.

The Health and Safety Committee was chaired by Duke Bainum.

Meanwhile, Zoning Chairwoman Donna Mercado retains her post.

Though not part of the new majority, she voted to endorse the new leadership last week.

Her three minority colleagues -- Bainum, John DeSoto and Steve Holmes -- all lost their previous jobs.

Council Vice Chairman John Henry Felix will keep the reins of the key Budget Committee, and Jon Yoshimura retains leadership of the Policy Committee.

The full committee rosters, as introduced in resolutions by the Council leadership today, are as follows:

Budget: Felix, chairman; members Kim, Mansho, Mirikitani and Yoshimura.

Executive Matters and Economic Development: Hannemann, chairman; members Felix, Kim, Mirikitani and Yoshimura.

Ousted Council Chairman DeSoto previously chaired this committee, which has now added the economic development function, a Hannemann specialty.

Human Services: DeSoto, chairman; members Bainum, Felix, Mansho and Mirikitani.

There was no Human Services Committee in the previous line-up.

Parks: Holmes, chairman; members DeSoto, Mansho, Mirikitani and Yoshimura. Mansho previously chaired.

Planning and Intergovernmental Relations: Mansho, chairwoman; members Felix, Kim, Mirikiani and Yoshimura.

Policy: Yoshimura, chairman; all nine Council members sit on this committee.

Public Safety, Transportation and Environment: Mirikitani, chairman; members Felix, Holmes, Mansho and Yoshimura.

Public Works: Bainum, chairman; members DeSoto, Holmes, Mansho and Mirikitani. Previously chaired by Holmes.

Zoning: Kim, chairwoman; members Bainum, DeSoto, Felix and Mansho.