Hawaii County Mayor- elect Harry Kim has already begun to fill his Cabinet positions even though he doesn’t take office until Dec. 5.

Kim has already chosen his corporation counsel — the county’s top civil attorney — as well as director of the Finance Department, deputy managing director for the West Hawaii office, executive assistant, director of the Department of Research and Development and his private secretary, West Hawaii Today reported Thursday.

“I’m trying to fill the Cabinet with people the community will feel are really qualified and trusted to do the job,” Kim told the newspaper.

He has named the following to positions, some of whom must be confirmed by the County Council:

>> Joe Kamelamela, who retired as deputy corporation counsel under current Corporation Counsel Molly Stebbins, to replace Stebbins. Kamelamela is a litigation attorney among whose cases have been the Hokulia development and Mamalahoa bypass.

>> Collins Tomei, manager of the Hilo branch of Territorial Savings Bank, to lead the Department of Finance.

>> Roy Takemoto, a former executive assistant for Kim, will return to that position. Takemoto has worked as managing partner in Hilo for PBR Hawaii &Associates Inc., an environmental planning and landscape architectural firm. Takemoto also served as the county’s deputy planning director between 2001 and 2004.

>> Barbara Kossow is returning to her former position as deputy managing director in the West Hawaii office. She held the position during Kim’s last term, and during most of Mayor Billy Kenoi’s term.

>> Irma Sumera was chosen as Kim’s private secretary. Sumera currently serves on the Pension Board.

Kim served as mayor until 2008, when he stepped down because of term limits.

In 2012, Kim lost to Kenoi by 1,438 votes in a runoff election.

In August, Kim beat Wally Lau, Kenoi’s managing director, by 10,671 votes in a primary field of 13 candidates.