A Honolulu City Council coalition expected to make Ron Menor the new Council chairman is also planning to choose Joey Manahan as chairman of the Budget Committee, put Kymberly Pine in charge of the Zoning Committee, and place Ikaika Anderson as overseer of a combined Transportation and Planning Committee.
That means the expected ouster of current Council Chairman Ernie Martin next month would strip current Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi and Zoning Chairman Trevor Ozawa of their power as well. Manahan currently heads the Transportation Committee.
Menor, Manahan, Pine and Anderson will likely propose replacing Martin with Menor as chairman this week. A resolution, to be heard Jan. 3, is expected to have the support of at least five of the nine Council members. Councilman Brandon Elefante said Monday he intends to vote for the new plan.
Menor said Monday that Manahan, Pine and Anderson asked specifically to chair the Budget, Zoning, and Transportation and Planning committees, respectively.
“If I’m elected Council chair, I will try to accommodate their requests,” Menor said. Council rules now call for committee assignments to be made by the chairman, although legislation introduced by Anderson would allow all Council members to vote.
Menor said that decisions on other committees, as well as the rosters for each committee, have not yet been decided but should be set shortly after the Jan. 3 vote.
“I would like to re-evaluate and take a fresh look at the standing committees and the jurisdictions and responsibilities of each committee,” he said. “I would also like to take a look at the existing committee structure and determine whether adjustments or changes should be made.”
In an emailed statement, Martin said it was “an honor and a privilege” to serve as chairman, a post he’s held since June 2011.
“Councilmember Menor is a dedicated public servant who works hard for his constituents,” he said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and the administration to address the serious issues facing our city.”
