Maui mayor-elect picks
2 legislators for Cabinet

By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

KAHULUI -- Maui County Mayor-elect James "Kimo" Apana has selected his major opponent in the Democratic primary election to head his Department of Housing and Human Concerns, and outgoing state Sen. Rosalyn Baker as economic development coordinator.

Councilwoman Alice Lee, who lost to Apana in the primary, will be the human concerns director when Apana takes office on Jan. 2.

Apana, who announced his Cabinet last night at his campaign headquarters, said he feels Lee has the qualifications for the job.

Lee has served as Council chairwoman and also as chairwoman on the Council's Subcommittee on Housing. Before being elected, she served on a number of boards of nonprofit groups, including the Maui United Way and Women Helping Women.

Baker lost her bid for re-election in the 4th Senate District (North/

West Maui, Molokai, Lanai) in the Democratic primary against Jan "Yagi" Buen. Baker has served as co-chairwoman of the state Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Other Cabinet appointees include Grant Chun, a partner with the law firm Carlsmith Ball, as managing director; Patrick Nitta, an American Savings Bank assistant vice president, as county finance director; John Min, a partner in Chris Hart & Partners Landscape Architecture and Planning, as planning director; county planner Clayton Yoshida as deputy planning director; Martha Suzuki, Council legislative analyst, as budget director; Priscilla Mikell, a high school counselor, as deputy director of human concerns; Floyd Miyazono, a state parks superintendent, as parks director; and Elizabeth Menor, who works with disadvantaged high school students, as deputy parks director.

Apana plans to reappoint Public Works Director Charles Jencks and Deputy Director David Goode.