Maui Election

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen has appointed Patrick McCall to serve as director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the County’s largest department with over 400 employees. Shane Dudoit was selected as deputy director.

Lawyers representing both sides hailed the opportunity for oral arguments in a case that questions the outcome of the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū residency area seat race between incumbent Alice Lee and challenger Noelani Ahia.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was sworn in to a new term in the US Senate today. Schatz won reelection to a second full term last November, garnering more than 71% of the vote – the largest margin of victory by any Senate candidate in 2022.

Maui’s new Mayor Richard Bissen called for sensible spending, explained his stance as a nonpartisan, and embraced traditional knowledge in his inaugural address on Monday evening at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

Only eight of the nine council members will be participating in today’s council inauguration, according to news release issued by attorney Lance Collins on Sunday. He said it’s because a certificate of election had not been issued for the Wailuku, Waiheʻe, Waikapū residency area seat.

Congressman Kahele delivered more than $26 million dollars in community project federal funding to Hawaiʻi’s 2nd Congressional District to support nonprofits, county and state priority projects, and Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Hawaiʻi.

Mayor-elect Richard Bissen announced the appointments of: Kauanoe Batangan, Deputy Director of Department of Transportation; Koa Hewahewa, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture; Saumalu Mataafa, Deputy Director of Department of Housing & Human Concerns; Robert Schmidt, Deputy Director, Department of Environmental Management; Wendy Taomoto, Deputy Director of Department of Public Works; and Steve Tesoro, Deputy Director of Department of Finance

Mayor-elect Richard Bissen announced the appointment of Josiah Nishita as deputy managing director, as well as the appointments of first deputies for the Department of the Corporation Counsel and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Budget Director, and Economic Development Director.

Mayor-elect Bissen completed his director appointments with the selection of John Stufflebean to lead the Department of Water Supply, James “Kimo” Landgraf to serve as deputy director.

Mayor-elect Bissen announced a new round of appointments to his cabinet including: Victoria Hamilton Takayesu as Corporation Counsel; Rogerene “Kali” Arce as Director of Department of Agriculture; Mālama Minn as Director of Parks and Recreation; and Lori Tsuhako as Director of Housing and Human Concerns.

Mayor-elect Richard Bissen’s public inauguration ceremony will be held Jan. 2, 2023 at 5 p.m. in the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

Mayor-Elect Richard Bissen announced more appointments to his cabinet including: Andrew Martin as Prosecuting Attorney; Scott Teruya as Director of Department of Finance; and Jordan Molina as Director of Department of Public Works.

Mayor Elect Bissen names three staff appointments to his cabinet, including: Leo Caires as Chief of Staff, Mahina Martin as Chief of Communications, and Gerry Dameron as Chief Innovation Officer.

Mayor-elect Richard Bissen today announced his first cabinet appointment of Kekuhaupio “Keku” Akana as his Managing Director.

Maui County Mayor-elect, Richard Bissen is seeking individuals who wish to serve their community in the position of County Department Directors and Deputy Directors.

Maui County Council candidate Noelani Ahia and 30 Maui County voters have filed a complaint with the Hawai’i Supreme Court seeking to void the results of the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū County Council race, and hold a new election.

More than 800 mail-in ballots were reportedly set aside for “deficient” signatures in Maui County on Election Day, and are pending voter action in order to be officially counted, according to the Our Hawaiʻi coalition. With just 504 votes separating Maui Council Chair Alice Lee, and challenger Noelani Ahia in the fourth summary report for the race for the Council’s Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū residency seat, the outstanding ballots have the potential to impact the outcome of that particular race.

Governor-elect Josh Green today has launched a website to begin taking applications for the Office of the Governor, Cabinet, and Boards and Commissions.

We had a chance to catch up with Bissen this morning, as he joined his wife in sign waving and thanking the community at the Hāna Highway / Haleakalā Highway intersection. He discussed the road ahead and how he plans to carry out his promise of Kamaʻāina Prosperity.

The Richard Bissen campaign has declared their candidate mayor after the second printout. In a Hawaii News Now interview just prior to the Bissen announcement, Victorino conceded saying, “I accept defeat,” and vowed to make the transition between administrations as smooth as possible.