Posted on: Thursday, April 7, 2005
Mayor's right-hand man backed
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Jeff Coelho was confirmed unanimously by the City Council yesterday as Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann's choice for managing director, the city's second in command.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser He said the Hannemann administration strives to answer questions quickly and without adding bureaucratic hurdles.
"Our department heads are empowered to answer your questions," he said.
Coelho said some answers just take longer than others. "If I don't know the answer, I will tell you I don't know the answer and I will seek the source to find the answer."
The job pays $112,455 a year.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser They are Salvatore Lanzilotti, customer services; Laverne Higa, facility maintenance; Eric Takamura, environmental services; Wayne Hashiro, design and construction; attorney Carrie Okinaga, corporation counsel; and Kenneth Nakamatsu, human resources.
None of Hannemann's nominees have been rejected.
In other news, the council approved a plan to ask the city parks director to study and report on the feasibility of instituting a public-private partnership with the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens for the operation of the now city-run botanical gardens.
Before the opening of yesterday's session, the council took time to honor members of the Army Reserve's 411th Combat Engineer Battalion and the Army National Guard's C Company, 193rd Aviation Regiment. The Hawai'i soldiers recently returned home from Iraq.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at 535-2429 or rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Coelho, 57, a longtime local radio executive, was questioned by council chairman Donovan Dela Cruz and council member Barbara Marshall about this administration's policies on responding to requests for information from the council and the public.
Soldiers from the Army Reserve's 411th Combat Engineer Battalion and the Hawai'i Army National Guard's C Company, 193rd Aviation Regiment, who recently returned from duty in Iraq, were greeted by members of the City Council before the start of yesterday's session.
The council also approved six other directors that will serve Hannemann.
Members of the Army Reserve's 411th Combat Engineer Battalion and the Hawai'i Army National Guard's C Company, 193rd Aviation Regiment recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the City Council.
