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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> DATE: February 19, 2013 Re: Comm. No. 119/Res. No. 53-13 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 1:00 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred <br /> Resolution No. 53-13, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 53-13, transmitted by Council Member Margaret Wille via Communication <br /> No. 119, dated January 30, 2013, urges the mayor to address the conflict of interest in the Office <br /> of the Corporation Counsel when the same attorney represents divergent interests of the <br /> executive and legislative branches. The resolution requests that the Mayor take "appropriate <br /> steps"to ensure that a Deputy Corporation Counsel is assigned to represent the Legislative <br /> Branch, that this attorney "will not be under the substantive supervision of the Corporation <br /> Counsel" but rather "independently accountable to the County Council." <br /> Council Member Wille stressed that this resolution was not aimed at any particular individual, <br /> but she was concerned that when the Council and the Administration disagree on legal matters, <br /> the Corporation Counsel sides with the Administration. She is also concerned that the <br /> Corporation Counsel is a member of the Mayor's Cabinet, which she described as a"political <br /> entity." <br /> Council Member Zendo Kern described the likelihood of public "legal battles" between attorneys <br /> in the Office of the Corporation Counsel and the subsequent slowing-down of the legislative <br /> process. He also said the Corporation Counsel is subject to confirmation by the County Council. <br /> Council Member Brenda Ford spoke in support of the resolution. She said that"by having this <br /> mixed position, we are basically denying the basic separation of powers of government to <br /> ourselves." <br /> Council Member Poindexter reminded the Council not to forget about the "important issues in <br /> the grassroots community" by focusing on internal conflicts between the legislative and <br /> executive branches of the County government. She expressed support for the Corporation <br /> Counsel and said"we're moving in the wrong direction" by approving the resolution. <br /> Committee Vice Chair Ilagan said that the resolution would create "an environment where we're <br /> going against each other—not working together." <br /> GREDC Report No. 1 <br />