wailuku, Hawaii – Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced today her recommendations to be the new clerk and deputy county clerk for Maui County.
Lee said Kathy Kaohu, who is currently an executive aide for Councilmember Tamara Paltin, will be considered at the full Maui County Council meeting on Friday, Feb. 7 to become the new clerk. James Krueger, a legislative analyst in the Office of Council Services, will be considered to serve as the new deputy clerk.
“We conducted an exhaustive search both externally and internally to find the best candidates to serve in these roles for the Office of the County Clerk going forward,” Lee said. “After interviews with several applicants, we ultimately decided to promote two internal candidates from within the legislative branch. I am confident that Kathy and James, if approved, will do themselves, the council, and the entirety of Maui County proud as the new clerk and deputy clerk.”
David Raatz, the supervising legislative attorney for the Office of Council Services, will serve as interim clerk starting Feb. 1 until a new clerk and deputy clerk are appointed, she said.
Lee said former Maui County Clerk Josiah Nishita and his deputy, Maggie Clark, today have vacated their posts at the Office of the County Clerk.
“Josiah and Maggie leave big shoes to fill,” Lee said. “They also have done everything they could to make the transition for their replacements as smooth as possible and I’m grateful to them both for that.”
If approved by the council, Kaohu and Krueger will assume the leadership roles in the clerk’s office in an election year that will feature for the first time elections by mail, with the primary election on Aug. 8 and general election on Nov. 3, she said.
Lee said the resolutions for the appointments of Kaohu and Krueger are on the posted agenda for the next meeting of the full Maui County Council, which is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7. The full agenda is available at mauicounty.us.
Call the office of Council Chair Lee at (808) 270-7760 for questions.
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