COUNCIL INNAUGURATION TODAY

An inauguration of the new Maui County Council gets underway at 10 o’clock this morning with seven incumbents re-elected and two former council members (Sol Kahoohalahala and Wayne Nishiki) returning to office.  At 2 o’clock this afternoon, the council is expected to adopt resolutions formalizing its reorganization.  Molokai Councilman Danny Mateo was selected to serve as council chair for the upcoming two-year term, saying he plans to immediately get to work on reinvigorating the county’s economy.  Makawao councilman Mike Molina, who was selected as vice chair, said the council faces some of the toughest challenges the county has faced during his tenure.  Molina has the additional task of chairing the council’s Committee of the Whole, which returns after a two year absence. (Posted:  Friday, January 02, 2009)