WAILUKU >> Maui Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa has chosen a high-ranking official in the former Democratic administration of Gov. Ben Cayetano to be his new public works director. Former Cayetano aide
joins ranks of new
Maui appointeesBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comGilbert Coloma-Agaran, the former chairman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, will be working in county government service on the Valley Isle where he was born and raised.
Coloma-Agaran, a 1980 graduate of Maui High School, established a residence on Maui last year and had been commuting to work on Oahu as land board director.
"I've seen Gil work," said Arakawa yesterday. "I believe he's the best person for the job."
Arakawa takes office on Jan. 2.
Arakawa, who has run as a Republican in the past, was the victor in a nonpartisan mayoral race.
Coloma-Agaran, who has a law degree, has also served in a number of state administrative positions, including director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
As land board chairman, he has been the director of the state Commission on Water Resource Management, the government body currently considering whether to take over the management of Maui's ground water at Iao.
Arakawa also announced the appointment of two major supporters in his bid to become mayor -- former state Sen. Jan Yagi Buen as economic development specialist and environmentalist Rob Parsons as public works deputy director of environmental management.
Buen, a Democrat, announced her support of Arakawa after the primary election.
Parsons, who received more than 13 percent of the mayoral vote in the primary election, supported Arakawa's successful effort to unseat incumbent Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.
Arakawa said to have Parsons fill the deputy position, he will have to go to the County Council in January to request money for a second deputy director in public works.
Arakawa also plans to seek a second deputy parks director position that he hopes to fill with former parks supervisor Allen Shishido.
Shishido was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the 9th District state House seat representing Kahului and Paia.
Other appointments included Danny Agsalog, as budget director; Lynn Araki-Regan, economic development coordinator; Jack Kulp, managing director; Herman Andaya, deputy director of housing and human concerns; Jeff Peterson as a public works deputy director; Wayne Boteilho, planning deputy director, John Buck, a parks deputy director; and Ellen Pelissero, public information officer.
County of Maui
