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Hawaii Tribune-Herald :: Hilo, Hawaii Page 1 of 3 <br /> ][Tdbune �DH,erald Print Page <br /> A new council rift <br /> Three councilors call for ouster of '� "*+�'" ' <br /> the chairman <br /> by Jason Armstrong <br /> Tribune-Herald Staff Writer 441,x. ,' + <br /> Three County Council members on Friday <br /> called for Kohala Councilman Pete <br /> Hoffmann's removal as chairman due to his ! vow <br /> allegedly disrespectful leadership. w _ ,. - ✓�= r <br /> Upset over Hoffmann's rescheduling of <br /> Thursday's council meeting in Keauhou, County Council members J Yoshimoto, left, Emily Naeole <br /> Hilo lawmakers Stacy Higa and J Yoshimoto and Stacy Higa complain Friday about Chairman Pete <br /> joined Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole in Hoffmann's leadership.The three East Hawaii lawmakers <br /> holding a press conference to air their said they want the Kohala representative replaced as <br /> chairman. -William Ing/ -Tribune-Herald <br /> criticisms. The three said they wanted to <br /> "set the record straight" and will appear next week on Hilo radio shows. <br /> The trio said they want Hoffmann removed from the leadership post he was elected to when lawmakers <br /> formed a new West Hawaii-based majority immediately following the council's Dec. 4 inauguration. <br /> Naeole said she'll even ask for divine intervention to help oust Hoffmann. <br /> "I'm going to be seeking the Lord for help me to make some changes in our leadership," she said. "It's <br /> only been like two months, or maybe three months down the road, and we (are) all uncomfortable <br /> already. That's not good." <br /> What has the three fuming -- they claimed Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda is also upset but was unable <br /> to join them Friday -- is a series of executive decisions Hoffmann has made. <br /> First, he pushed back the starting time of Thursday's meeting to 1:30 p.m. from the announced and <br /> typical 9 a.m. starting time. That prompted Higa, Yoshimoto and Naeole to leave the meeting early to <br /> fulfill other obligations, opening them up to criticism. Ikeda also left long before the meeting ended. <br /> But all members received 10 days'advanced notice, in writing, of the timing change. <br /> Hoffmann said he rescheduled the meeting because some lawmakers asked to attend Thursday <br /> mornings dedication of an addition to Puuhonua o Honaunau, while he wanted to hear Mayor Harry <br /> Kim's luncheon speech on the state of Hawaii County. <br /> Higa, Yoshimoto and Naeole complained that they had to wait more than four hours from when a <br /> Thursday morning committee meeting ended until the afternoon council meeting. Far from their <br /> offices, the trio was unable to work, Higa said. <br /> Hoffmann said he thought they might use the recess to go hear Kim's noontime speech. <br /> "They had plenty of time to let me know," Hoffmann said of his colleagues'early departures. <br /> Hoffmann said he learned the three councilors intended to leave Thursday's meeting early just 24 <br /> http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2007/02/24/local news/localO Lprt 3/7/2007 <br />