Posted on: Friday, April 12, 2002
Bunda to replace Mansho
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
 Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
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Darrlyn T. Bunda Born: Honolulu, July 6, 1943. |
The City Council is preparing to replace veteran Councilwoman Rene Mansho with a longtime Central O'ahu community advocate Darrlyn Bunda.
Mansho resigned Wednesday, the same day an O'ahu grand jury was to have met to consider felony criminal charges against her.
She and her attorney have so far declined to indicate what legal sanctions she will face in a plea agreement. Yesterday, the council nominated Bunda to step in.
Bunda, 58, has served as executive director of the Waipahu Community Association since 2000. Before that she was executive director for the Leeward O'ahu Transportation Management Association from 1991 to 2000. She ran for City Council once, in the 1980s when Randy Iwase won the race in her district.
Bunda said she sees the district's priorities as economic development, transportation and appropriate growth for the various communities.
A resident of Mililani Mauka, Bunda said she will not run for a seat on the council later this year, when reapportionment divides the district into two new districts.
Bunda said she'll work hard on the budget. She acknowledged that the sprawling Mililani-Waipio-North Shore district presents some challenges because what's important in one neighborhood may not apply in another.
Bunda rates transportation as a big issue that requires better planning because of increasing traffic congestion.
"Things are not getting better; it's getting worse and something's got to be done," Bunda said. "We cannot continue to do these Band-Aid things."
She said another concern is how different communities see development in their respective areas and ensuring "how it's done so that it fits."
Bunda said she feels privileged to serve the community. She will lead the Public Works and Economic Development Committee that Mansho led. Councilman Duke Bainum takes Mansho's place on the budget committee.
Bunda is ending one political tie because of the new job. She is stepping down as volunteer campaign chairwoman for prospective City Council candidate Ernie Martin, who is chief of the office of special projects within the city Department of Community Services.
All but one of the other council members signed a resolution to nominate Bunda to the post. Councilman Steve Holmes declined to sign, saying that he had a problem with the selection process, not with Bunda. Holmes said he felt that the process of nominating a new council member should have been opened to the entire district. He said he felt uncomfortable that the candidates were lobbying for weeks before Mansho's abrupt resignation on Wednesday.
"The council members shouldn't make the decision for the community," Holmes said. He was blunt in his assessment that Mansho should have stepped down earlier.
Holmes said it was clear that the threat of criminal charges against her prompted her action. "It took the hook of the grand jury investigation to finally pull her off the stage."
City Council Chairman John DeSoto said he believed it was important to move quickly to replace Mansho so that her district can be represented.
DeSoto said he doesn't see what would be gained by having an open call for a replacement when Bunda was a good candidate — someone familiar with the community who can get to work quickly. "We have a job that needs to be done quickly and expeditiously."
DeSoto said people can comment on Bunda's appointment over the next two weeks and at the council meeting April 24 when she would be expected to be sworn in.
Councilman Jon Yoshimura expressed similar concerns about the selection process. "I believe Darrlyn Bunda would be an excellent replacement. My only concern is that the process be fair and open."
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
