He said proposals to put the landfill in Campbell Industrial Park or Koko Crater were "ridiculous" and that he did not regret lambasting them.

The council voted 6-3 on Dec. 1 to keep the landfill at Waimanalo Gulch, with Djou and councilmen Mike Gabbard and Nestor Garcia in opposition.

Tam denied that the reshuffling was driven by political vengeance, but said he was not surprised by Djou's accusations.

"I don't blame him, because it's an embarrassment to him," Tam said. "It's OK if he points fingers at me, because I'm used to it already. But it's not going to help in terms of doing the people's work."

Seven of the council's nine members have signed a resolution that would replace Djou with Barbara Marshall as chair of the Zoning Committee. The plan would oust both Djou and Marshall from the powerful Budget Committee, and replace them with Garcia and newly elected Councilman Todd Apo, who will replace Gabbard next month.

If at least five council members vote in approval Jan. 2, the plan would install Djou as chairman of the politically weak Parks Committee, and would remove him from the Public Works and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Tam.

Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz said Djou is a valued member of the panel, and that he was not being punished for speaking out.

"I wouldn't call it that," Dela Cruz said. "We should never let petty politics get in the way of what is in the best interests of the city and county."