Yoshimura resigns Jon Yoshimura announced this morning he is stepping down as chairman of the Honolulu City Council effective today. The resignation comes just ahead of a move by his colleagues to oust him from the top leadership position at the council.
as council chairman
He leaves before he's ousted,
clearing the way for John DeSotoBy Gordon Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comIt clears the way for vice-chairman John DeSoto to become chairman.
DeSoto will run tomorrow's meeting of the city council where final votes are scheduled to be taken on the restaurant smoking ban and the condemnation of land in Waikiki for an Outrigger hotels development.
Yoshimura acknowledged at a press conference this morning that DeSoto had the votes of a majority of the council to remove him as chairman and reorganize the council.
It was not clear this morning what role Yoshimura would play in a reorganized council. Yoshimura said he would remain on the council until the end of his term in January.
Also at tomorrow's meeting, newly elected city councilwoman Ann Kobayashi replaces former Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who was convicted on federal bribery charges.
Kobayashi was sworn in today.
DeSoto told reporters after Yoshimura's announcement that dissatisfaction about Yoshimura's outside problems was a key reason his colleagues wanted him removed.
A disciplinary board of the Hawaii Supreme Court recommended that Yoshimura be suspended from practicing law for six months because he lied to the public following a 1999 hit-and-run accident.
Yoshimura also agreed last summer to pay a $3,532.06 fine to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund because of questionable campaign spending practices.
Asked why his colleagues wanted him out as chairman, Yoshimura replied that with eight different councilmembers, there were eight different reasons.
"I'd like to thank my colleagues for giving me this opportunity (to serve as council chairman)," Yoshimura said.
"I've enjoyed it. I think we've been productive. We've done a good job, but I think its time to move on."
Yoshimura had told colleagues that he intended to step down as chairman on June 30 so that he can focus on campaigning for lieutenant governor as a Democrat.
Yoshimura became chairman in May 1999, replacing then-Councilman Mufi Hannemann. Hannemann, in the spring of 1998, ousted DeSoto, who had been chairman since late 1994.
DeSoto is also considering a run for the lieutenant governor's seat this fall as a Republican.
City & County of Honolulu
