Committee advances most nominations to full council, sends one unfavorable recommendation

The Hawaii County Council’s Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs advanced most of the mayor’s nominations and appointments on May 14 in Hilo, forwarding candidates to the full council with favorable recommendations and recording one unfavorable committee recommendation.

Chair Cindy Evans opened public consideration of nominations and the committee moved through a long slate of appointments. Chelsea Ahern, nominated to the Transportation Commission, told members she has worked on islandwide Girl Scouts programming and is focused on improving rural transit links, safer walk and bike access and better real‑time information for riders. “I would love to see an improvement with that, building up that infrastructure, for our rural communities,” Ahern said during her remarks. The committee voted unanimously to advance her nomination with a favorable recommendation.

Kealoha Nui Browning, nominated to the Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency, described local roots and a vision of native plantings, cultural education and community uses for Banyan Drive; members praised the community focus and also advanced her nomination to full council with a favorable recommendation.

The committee paused briefly during the Liquor Commission nomination for Jasmine Cruzat when she encountered Zoom technical issues; after reconvening she explained her background with Diamond Parking Services and said she saw no conflict with that employment. The committee requested her resume be provided for the council hearing and voted 9‑0 to forward her nomination with a favorable recommendation.

Not every nominee received unanimous support. Arthur Buckman, nominated to the Police Commission, did not appear in person or by Zoom. Committee members debated options and ultimately the roll call produced too few votes to sustain a favorable recommendation; the clerk recorded that Buckman’s nomination will be forwarded to council with an unfavorable recommendation.

Other nominees forwarded to council with favorable recommendations included Leanne Youngs (Salary Commission), Daisy Mitchell (Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee), Mel Yokoyama Jr. (Ka‘ū Community Development Plan Action Committee) and Sage Houston (Youth Commission), who introduced himself by Zoom and cited youth priorities such as food sovereignty and housing concerns.

Most of the nominations were read into the record by the mayor’s representative and discussed in committee before being advanced. The committee’s favorable recommendations mean those nominations will proceed to the full council for final confirmation votes.