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Committee recommends five nominations to full council; one withdrawn
Summary
The committee advanced four nominations to county boards and commissions with favorable recommendations and recorded one voluntary withdrawal: Burke Billingsley (Veterans Advisory Committee), Ken Hoyle (Kailua Village Design Commission), Rick Porter (Fire Commission), and Sharla Thompson (Kona CDP Action Committee); Douglas Uemoto's nomination was withdrawn by administration following his job acceptance.
The Government Operations and External Affairs Committee on Sept. 16 forwarded several administration nominees to the full Hawaii County Council with favorable recommendations.
Burke Billingsley (District 9) was nominated to the Veterans Advisory Committee for a term ending Dec. 31, 2028. Administration staff described Billingsley as an honorably discharged Air Force veteran who wants to focus on veterans' issues, particularly suicide prevention. "I really hope to be able to contribute to our veterans ... and bring those issues to the fore," Billingsley said. The committee voted 8-0 (one excused) to forward the nomination.
Ken Hoyle (District 8) was nominated to the Kailua Village Design Commission; Hoyle, who works with the Hawaii Small Business Development Center, told members he wants to promote investment while preserving Kona's character. The committee forwarded his nomination 8-0 (one excused).
Rick Porter (District 6) was nominated to the Fire Commission for a term ending Dec. 31, 2028. Porter described local concerns about hydrants, equipment and station conditions and said the Lahaina fires influenced his interest in improving fire protection. Members urged him to request briefings on capital-improvement priorities and the condition of fire facilities; the committee forwarded his nomination 8-0 (one excused).
Sharla Thompson (listed in materials as Charlotte/Sharla), a long-time resident and local photographer, was nominated to the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee and described a focus on open and green spaces and careful planning for growth; the committee forwarded the nomination with an 8-0 vote (one excused).
Administration also reported that nominee Douglas Uemoto accepted new employment and asked to withdraw his nomination to the Hamakua CDP Action Committee; the clerk recorded the withdrawal.
Each confirmed nomination will be scheduled for full-council consideration. Committee members frequently thanked nominees for volunteering and encouraged nominees to pursue specific early tasks (for example, the Fire Commission nominee was urged to review CIP priorities and station conditions).
