HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.010 2016-2018 P1GW)c tempt t 01
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
Time 0 G w By
Date JAN 4-7017
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT FOR CONFIRMATION OF JOSEPH KAMELAMELA
AS CORPORATION COUNSEL
Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee Hearing
Wednesday, January 4, 2017, 9:00 AM.
To: Chair Dru Kanuha, Vice Chair Ruggles and Committee Members:
I support the confirmation of Joseph Kamelamela as Mayor Kim's nominee for Corporation
Counsel. I have known Mr. Kamelamela, both professionally and socially, since my return to Hilo
to work at the Office Of The Prosecuting Attorney. He clerked with Judge Shunichi Kimura, who
always praised Mr. Kamelamela's diligence and integrity.
Over the thirty-five years that I have known Mr. Kamelamela, he has maintained a high-level of
professional skills, including litigation, supervision and legal advising while at the Prosecutor's
Office and Corporation Counsel's Office. His reputation is that he is diligent, dedicated, hard-
working, capable, able to handle the stress of "working under fire," and provides clear guidance
based upon fair and correct legal principles, even if it is unpopular. He has taught professional
ethics courses for the county.
Mr. Kamelamela is devoted to his family and committed to his community. He volunteers for
Non-Profit Boards, has coached AYSO soccer for decades, and has been involved with many
civic projects, including helping the veterans. He shows his organizational and management
skills at work and through other community activities.
It is admirable that he is willing to "return from retirement" to help the people of Hawai'i County
by providing his proven leadership and applying his experience working at Corporation Counsel
for over two decades.
As noted at the Hawaii County website, Corporation Counsel "is the legal advisor and legal
representative of all county agencies, the council, and all officers and employees in matters
related to their official powers and duties. The corporation counsel shall represent the county in
all civil legal proceedings and shall perform all other services incident to the office as may be
required by law."
The Hawai'i County Office of the Corporation Counsel's Mission is "to support County
government by providing proactive and effective legal representation while maintaining the
highest standards of professionalism and always acting in furtherance of the public interest."
Joseph Kamelamela has the moral character and experience to be an excellent Corporation
Counsel. Please allow him to help our county government and our community. I respectfully ask
that your Committee refer the matter to the full County Council with a favorable recommendation
for confirmation.
Thank yo,or alloavir to testify.
Charlene Ibo i
Retired Haw-ii County Prosecuting Attorney
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