NAWILIWILI — After falling short in the last two elections for County Council, KipuKai Kuali‘i will join the seven-member body making laws governing Kaua‘i.
While the selection process was not as smooth as it seemed on the surface, the council on Monday unanimously approved Kuali‘i to fill the seat that former Councilman Derek Kawakami vacated after being picked by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to represent the 14th District in the state House. The council term ends Dec. 3, 2012.
“The learning curve will be a very steep one, however, I’m confident I will be able to contribute from day one,” Kuali‘i said in a press release he prepared prior to the special council meeting.
Councilman Tim Bynum nominated Kuali‘i to replace Kawakami, seconded by Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura. With the floor opened for discussion at that point, one by one council members voiced support for Kuali‘i.
Councilman Mel Rapozo was the fifth council member to share his opinion.
“I guess for everyone that’s here, everybody can count. So I guess it’s safe to assume that KipuKai Kuali‘i will be the next council member,” said Rapozo, causing the crowd that filled every seat in Council Chambers to erupt in a loud ovation.
Seeing the reaction his comments had caused, Rapozo said, “It’s not done yet, because believe me, in politics anything can happen.”
Rapozo’s second comment brought laughter to the majority of the audience.
However, some neither clapped nor laughed. They already knew prior to the meeting that Kuali‘i was going to be chosen.
“We were told who was going to be,” said Maxine Correa, one of the nine applicants for the position.
Correa, who served as a councilwoman for 12 years, said she was saddened the decision was made prior to Monday’s meeting, but still attended hoping for a chance to speak prior to Kuali‘i’s nomination.
She said the council should have nominated Kuali‘i after the public had an opportunity to testify on behalf of other candidates.
Correa wasn’t the only one to voice criticism over the process.
“After Friday I found out that I had already lost,” said Sandi Kato-Klutke, who served on the county Planning Commission for six years.
She said one of her supporters called her to let her know she had lost.
“My supporters called (the council members) and they said, ‘Oh, KipuKai already has four of our votes, no sense she even come to the meeting,’” Kato-Klutke said.
The floor was open for public testimony after Bynum’s motion. All of the several speakers endorsed Kuali‘i.
Kuali‘i said the process was fair and open. However, he said twice he was “very hopeful” to be chosen prior to the Monday meeting, but did not confirm nor deny if he knew beforehand he was already chosen as a council member.
“I don’t think you ever know until the vote happens,” he said. “Anything can happen.”
Kuali‘i said that by placing eighth at the November election he should have been chosen as a replacement for Kawakami. He said had former Council Chair Kaipo Asing placed eighth he would have supported Asing, who finished ninth last election.
Bynum highlighted Kuali‘i’s hard work in the last two elections.
Councilman Dickie Chang said it doesn’t matter how candidates place in the elections, he still has a lot of respect for candidates who put themselves out on the front line during campaigning.
Councilwoman Nadine Nakamura said that based on all the different forums she attended prior to the November election, she was very impressed with what she learned from Kuali‘i.
Yukimura said the County Charter does not require the council to choose the eighth-place candidate, but she does believe the electoral process deserves some weight. However, she added that she would not support the runner-up candidate if she thought he was not qualified.
“But in the case of KipuKai Kuali‘i, I think he is very well qualified,” said Yukimura, adding that Kuali‘i is younger than other council members. “It’s time to cultivate and nurture the next generation.”
Council Chair Jay Furfaro said he was proud of all the applicants who sent in resumes.
He said Kuali‘i values the island and his sense of place.
“I want you to know that I will certainly be there to help you with anything around the table,” Furfaro told Kuali‘i.
Rapozo said he was ready for extra help.
“I’ll be supporting KipuKai Kuali‘i today, and looking forward to working with him, I’m hoping starting tomorrow, because this budget is a mess,” he said.
However, Rapozo’s wish won’t come true. Furfaro said Kuali‘i is welcome to sit in the audience during the council meeting this morning but won’t become a council member until he is sworn in at a special meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today at Council Chambers.
The list of nine applicants was kept confidential. Correa said Asing and Kapa‘a resident James “Kimo” Rosen also applied. Council members would not release the name of the other applicants.
“I don’t know why it has to be confidential,” Yukimura said.
Kapa‘a resident Ken Taylor, who ran in November, said he did not apply for the job this time around.
Taylor also had his criticism. He said it “would’ve been a little nicer” if council members had gone through other names before nominating Kuali‘i.
