City budget director quits to care for dad
Advertiser Staff
Caroll Takahashi, Mayor Jeremy Harris' top finance official, has resigned after 18 months on the job and will be temporarily replaced by a deputy while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.
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Takahashi, head of the city's Deptartment of Budget and Fiscal Services since January 2001, stepped down yesterday so she can spend more time caring for her ailing father, officials said.
Caroll Takahashi tangled with the City Council over cuts.
Takahashi did not respond to telephone or e-mail inquiries yesterday.
She had been in the spotlight at City Hall in recent months as Harris and City Council members argued over a controversial debt restructuring plan and cuts the council proposed to the city's annual operating and construction budgets.
"Caroll will be remembered as one of the most competent budget directors in Honolulu's history," Harris said in a written statement released late yesterday. "She was the architect of one of the leanest budgets ever, and she has worked tirelessly with both our departments and the City Council to bring that about."
Takahashi will be replaced by department deputy director Ben Dimond until a permanent replacement is hired, the statement said.
Harris said Takahashi had demonstrated "great management skill, total integrity and a superb ability to work with people on the job."
When Harris first appointed Takahashi, some council members questioned whether her marriage to attorney Herbert Takahashi posed a conflict of interest since he represented the United Public Workers, which includes thousands of city workers.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa did not respond to inquiries about when the administration expected to name a replacement.
