LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i County Council unanimously appointed its chairman, Bill "Kaipo" Asing, as mayor of Kaua'i this morning to serve until Dec. 1.

A special mayoral election will be held Sept. 20 to fill the remaining two years of the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste's term. Baptiste, 52, died June 22, nine days after heart bypass surgery.

Council members Joanne Yukimura, a former mayor, and Mel Rapozo, both announced their intentions this morning to run for the two-year mayor's term.

Asing, who has served almost 24 years on the County Council, said he would step down as a councilman sometime after the Wednesday council meeting and take the oath of office of mayor at a place and time to be decided. Gary Heu, Baptiste's administrative assistant, will continue as acting mayor until Asing is sworn in.

All seven members of the council voted to approve Asing as mayor.

Asing says he doesn't expect to make any major changes in the county administration during his time in office.

"I want people to feel that everything that is in place will remain in place," he said.

The county clerk's office issued a proclamation today for the special nonpartisan election.

It will be held Sept. 20, in conjunction with the primary election. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the two candidates with the most votes will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

The winner will serve out the remainder of Baptiste's term from Dec. 1 to Dec. 1, 2010.

Nomination papers may be filed through close of business July 22, the clerk's office said. Since it is a special election to fill a vacancy, no signatures are required on nomination papers for candidates filing to run for mayor, it said.