Water spokeswoman is new city clerk

By Gordon Y. K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Denise DeCosta, longtime community relations officer for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, was approved unanimously as city clerk by the City Council yesterday.

DeCosta was chosen over a field of 60 candidates because of her management experience and ability to deal with the media, said Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, who headed a special committee that conducted the search.

Others on the committee were Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, former City Clerk Ray Pua and Frances Mossman. Kobayashi said DeCosta's qualifications were "just heads above everyone else."

The appointment is effective Sept. 1. She replaces Genny Wong, who retired June 30. The post now pays between $85,000 and $86,000 but the Council is working on legislation that would pay the clerk, legislative auditor and Office of Counsel Services director the same as department heads who make $99,807, Marshall said.

DeCosta has spent more than 22 years at the water board where she was tasked with community outreach and education, as well as her more public persona as chief spokeswoman in dealings with the media.

The city clerk supervises the staff responsible for maintaining the records, legislation and rules of the city, as well as conducting city elections.

"I would like to get people to care about voting and I'd like to see what the staff has to say about voter education and getting people out to vote," DeCosta said after her appointment. That would probably entail enlisting corporate sponsorship for voter education programs, she said.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.