Committee Advances McClean, Votes Down Wong Appointment

Michele McLean (left) and Pat Wong (right). Courtesy photos, County of Maui.

A council committee on Tuesday advanced a recommendation of Michele McLean as director of the Department of Planning, but voted down the mayor’s appointment of Pat Wong as Corporation Counsel.

This is the second appointee that the committee has voted against.   Last week, the council’s Governance, Ethics and Transparency Committee voted 5-4 against recommending the Mayor’s nominee, John D. Kim as prosecuting attorney.

Members of the committee took no action on Mayor Victorino’s nominations of William Spence as director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns and David Goode as director of the Department of Public Works.

The recommendation in favor of McClean now heads to the full council for final consideration.

“While I’m pleased that a majority of five council members agreed that Ms. McLean should continue as planning director, I’m disappointed with its vote against Mr. Wong,” Mayor Victorino said.

“This is the first time all 11 mayoral appointees have gone through a confirmation process,” Mayor Victorino said. “It’s been difficult for everyone involved, but we must have faith in the process and hope that council members will share my vision for a customer-service oriented county government. I respectfully ask our council members to consider my nominees based on their qualifications, the same qualifications that council members approved by ordinance last year.”

“I wish to thank council members for their diligence and hard work in this difficult confirmation process,” Mayor Victorino said. “I look forward to working together to do what’s best for the people of Maui County.”