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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 6, 2007

City council reorganization announced

Advertiser Staff

Several City Council committee leaders will swap seats under a reorganization announced by Chairwoman Barbara Marshall, who has been fighting off attempts to oust her from the top spot.

As expected, Rod Tam will replace Charles Djou as Zoning Committee chairman, following Djou's resignation from the post this week. The Zoning Committee oversees land-use decisions that can be crucial for construction projects.

Djou, who had aligned himself with a dissident faction and stepped down under pressure from Marshall, will replace Romy Cachola as chair of Intergovernmental Affairs, regarded as a backwater committee.

Djou, Cachola, Ann Kobayashi and Donovan Dela Cruz are loosely aligned in opposition to Marshall, who replaced Dela Cruz as council chair in January.

The changes, announced Friday, appear to strengthen Marshall's position without causing major disruptions.

Under the reorganization, Cachola will replace Tam as chair of affordable housing and economic development; and Gary Okino will replace Tam as chair of planning.

Apo will remain chair of the powerful Budget Committee, and Nestor Garcia will still chair the Transportation Committee.

Marshall had removed Dela Cruz and Kobayashi from the Transportation Committee two weeks ago, replacing them with Tam and Apo.