LIHUE — There may be a new selection process for an outgoing County Council member the next time around. The Kauai County Council approved a resolution on Tuesday that would let county voters decide whether the process to fill a
LIHUE — There may be a new selection process for an outgoing County Council member the next time around.
The Kauai County Council approved a resolution on Tuesday that would let county voters decide whether the process to fill a vacancy on the seven-member board should be changed.
“We’ve basically been two-for-two over the past two elections where, during the past two terms of the councils, we’ve had to pick a new council member,” Councilman Ross Kagawa said.
The proposal, introduced by Council Chair Jay Furfaro and Councilman Mel Rapozo, would allow the eighth-place County Council finisher from the previous general election to be appointed immediately to the seven-member board.
“In the event that a tie vote had occurred for the next highest number of votes, the vacancy shall be determined by a method of chance as determined by the county clerk,” the proposed charter amendment reads.
If the eighth-place finisher is either not willing or unqualified to accept the appointment, the ninth-place finisher for council in the last general election would be appointed.
If this process is unsuccessful within 30 days of the vacancy, the proposal would allow the remaining members of the council to “appoint a successor with the required qualifications to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.”
If the council is unable to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy, the charter amendment would allow the mayor to appoint a qualified person to fill the position within another 30 days.
A public hearing on the resolution is scheduled for July 9 at the Historic County Council Building in Lihue.
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