Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: committee forwards five mayoral nominations; two roll-call splits recorded
Summary
At its Feb. 18, 2025 meeting the committee forwarded five mayoral nominations to the full council with favorable recommendations. Most advanced unanimously or by voice vote; two nominations (Leeward Planning Commission and Banyan Drive redevelopment) advanced with roll-call splits.
The Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs forwarded the following mayoral nominations to the full council with favorable recommendations on Feb. 18, 2025.
1) Philip I. 'Ippy' Iona — Department of Water Supply (communication 133). The committee closed the file and sent the nomination to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the clerk recorded nine ayes. If confirmed by the full council, Iona will serve a five-year term through Dec. 31, 2029.
2) Brian Cushni — Fire Commission (communication 134). Cushni, a 27-year veteran of the Hawaii Fire Department, was re-nominated to a five-year term (representing Council District 8). The committee forwarded the nomination with a favorable recommendation (clerk announced nine ayes).
3) Daniel (Neil) Thomas — Merit Appeals Board (communication 135). Thomas, a longtime mediator and arbitrator, was nominated to fill a vacancy on the Merit Appeals Board. The committee voted to forward his nomination with a favorable recommendation (nine ayes).
4) Christopher (Kalei) Toofili — Leeward Planning Commission (communication 136). The committee voted by roll call to forward Toofili’s nomination representing North Kona (five- or six-member majority); the clerk recorded six votes in favor and three opposed. The committee discussion focused on ensuring representation, reducing quorum issues and the planning commission’s role in long-term land-use decisions.
5) Bruce Heidenfeld — Banyan Drive, Hawaii Redevelopment Agency (communication 137). Heidenfeld, a Peninsula resident with longtime ties to Banyan Drive, was forwarded to the full council with a favorable recommendation by roll call vote; the clerk announced seven votes in favor and two opposed. Council members raised potential conflict-of-interest concerns because family members own property on the peninsula and asked corporation counsel to review ethics implications.
What this means: Each nomination will be considered by the full county council. For nominations advanced by roll-call split, councilmembers cited particular concerns about diversity, representation, ethics, quorum attendance and the planning commission’s heavy influence on land-use outcomes. Committee members asked that corporation counsel follow up where potential conflicts or statutory compliance issues were raised.
