Tavares sworn in as second Maui mayor in family
Charmaine Tavares was sworn into office yesterday, becoming the second Tavares to serve as Maui mayor.
She was sworn in on the same family Bible used by her father, the late Maui Mayor Hannibal Tavares, who served in the late 1970s and into the '80s.
The younger Tavares, 63, a former County Council member and county parks director, said she was happy to be working in the same elected role as her father.
"It feels great. I'm anxious to get started," she said.
She has already named a number of people to her Cabinet, including Jo-Ann Ridao as housing commissioner. Ridao is currently the managing director of Lokahi Pacific, a nonprofit organization that has developed 80 apartment units for low-income people with special needs.
Other appointees include Benjamin M. Acob as prosecutor, Sheri Morrison as managing director, Tamara Horcajo as parks director, Vanessa Medeiros as director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns, Jeff Hunt as planning director and Don Medeiros as transportation director.
Brian Moto is to continue as corporation counsel, Kalbert Young as finance director and Milton Arakawa as director of public works and environmental management.
Tavares said she plans to get the county more involved in developing affordable housing.
She said one possibility is to help develop housing, through projects similar to those initiated by her late father.
While the county should not be in the business of developing housing, she said, it can help builders through the permitting system.
Tavares, who ran as a Republican in her early years on the council, said she's an independent and gathers support from individuals.