Aide chosen to succeed late Moloka'i councilman
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui County Council yesterday chose Patrick Kawano's executive assistant to serve out the remaining six months of the term of the longtime Moloka'i council member who died last month.
Tim Hurley • The Honolulu Advertiser
Danny Mateo is expected to be sworn into office in the next week. The vote for him was 7-1.
Danny Mateo will run for the same post in the November election.
Mateo, who has filed to run for the seat in November, said he is dedicating the rest of the term to carrying out the policies and agenda of Kawano.
The only vote against Mateo came from Wayne Nishiki, who said he couldn't support anyone running for the same post in the fall: He said it isn't fair to bestow the advantage of incumbency on any one individual.
But other council members said Mateo was a logical selection because of his experience, knowledge and ability to step into the position with no training necessary.
"It's not a matter of fairness,'' said Alan Arakawa. "Our responsibility is to find someone who can do the work and hit the ground running.''
More than 250 people attended a special council meeting Monday night on Moloka'i, where members heard pitches from eight candidates, including two who vowed not to seek election in November: Harriet Fukuoka and Walter Ritte Jr.
The other candidates were Stephanie "Stacy" Crivello, George Kahinu, Beverly Pauole-Moore, Michael Tancayo and DeGray Vanderbilt.
Members of Kawano's family, speaking at both meetings, urged the council to appoint Mateo. They said Kawano, who would have been stepping down because of term limits anyway, was grooming his assistant for the job. Several council members said Kawano told them he had wanted Mateo to replace him.
Mateo is a 1970 graduate of St. Anthony High School. He attended Maui Community College and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, earning an associate of science degree in human services. He is a former personnel liaison with Kukui (Moloka'i) Inc. and was economic development coordinator for the island of Moloka'i during Mayor Hannibal Tavares' administration.
