City Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, who represents Waimanalo, Kailua and most of Kaneohe, has died.

Marshall has battled cancer three times. The most recent was colon cancer. She was 64.

In September, she won re-election to another four year term. In 2005, Marshall was re-elected with 84 percent of the vote for a full four-year-term. In 2007, Marshall was elected chairwoman of the council and previously served in many other capacities on Honolulu County's governing body.

Her death leaves open her seat on the City Council. Council chairman Todd Apo said the council will discuss holding a special election because more than a year remains on her term. The city charter calls for an election with in 60 days, Apo said.

The council will discuss the vacancy on Wednesday.

Marshall was born in Illinois and was a graduate of the University of Illinois, according to her Web site. She lived in Kailua since coming to Hawaii in 1979. Before entering politics, she worked in broadcast journalism. She was the first person in Hawaii to anchor a live morning television newscast. She also took the helm of "Action Line," which was an integral part of the KHON Channel 2 News, and was executive producer for some of Hawaii's top-rated newscasts.

Marshall's son, Joe Marshall, is a top interior designer in Hawaii and the father of Zachary. Barbara's husband, Cliff, is retired.