HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 010 01/06/2009 2008-2010REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: 1/6/2009
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 1:03 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 47
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Communication No. 47, reports as follows:
Communication No. 47, transmitted by Mayor William P. Kenoi, dated December 16, 2008,
requests the confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Lincoln Ashida as County of Hawaii
Corporation Counsel.
Mr. Ashida has served the County of Hawaii as Corporation Counsel from December 2000 to
present. Prior to serving as Corporation Counsel, Mr. Ashida was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
for the County of Hawaii from 1987 to 2000. He will serve a term that is co-terminus with
Mayor Kenoi, which will end on December 3, 2012.
Pursuant to Article VI, Section 6-2.2, Hawaii County Charter, "The corporation counsel shall be
appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the council and may be removed by the mayor. The
corporation counsel shall be an attorney licensed to practice and in good standing before the
Supreme Court of the State of Hawai`i."
Councilmember Naeole stated that during the last two years she got "slam dunked" by several
issues and didn't feel like Corporation Counsel was there for her. She stated that she would
however still support the appointment of Mr. Ashida to continue as Corporation Counsel.
Councilmember Ford asked how Mr. Ashida felt about sexual harassment and violence in the
workplace. Mr. Ashida responded that as a prosecutor he was in charge of the sections that
handled crimes against woman and children and we always tried to approach these issues from
the perspective of the victim. Councilmember Ford then questioned how Corporation Counsel
handles due diligence on land acquisition. Mr. Ashida responded that the Land Management
division, along with the office of Corporation Counsel, always conducts its due diligence prior to
land acquisition. Councilmember Ford then asked if Mr. Ashida felt the Community
Development Plans are "laws or goals." Mr. Ashida declined to answer the question for legal
reasons.
Committee Chairman Yagong advised Mr. Ashida that he did not need to return to the next full
Council meeting for final reading of his appointment.
FC Report No. 10
Comm. No. 4?
Page 2
Your Committee on Finance recommends the confirmation of Mr. Lincoln Ashida as County of
Hawaii Corporation Counsel.
AYES NOES A&F. EX
ENRIQUES X
FORD X
GREENWELL X
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
NAEOLE X
ONISHI X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DOMINIC YAGON~
FC REPO "
ADOPTED: