A Hawaiʻi County Council panel just squeaked a major power shift through on Tuesday, advancing a charter change that could move many executive duties from the elected mayor to an appointed county manager. Supporters say the move would steady long-term projects that keep getting reset every time a new mayor takes office. Critics are already blasting it as a power grab that hands core responsibilities to someone voters never chose. The 5-4 committee vote sends Bill 158 to the full council for more debate.
What Bill 158 Would Do
Bill 158, introduced by Councilmember Heather Kimball, would scrap the county’s managing director position and install a county manager instead. That manager would prepare and carry out the budget, run day-to-day operations and appoint several department heads. The job would also include supervising the police department, liquor control and the Department of Water Supply, while the mayor would still hold veto power and some appointment authority, as reported by Civil Beat.
How A County Manager Would Be Chosen
Under the proposal, the manager would be picked by the mayor working together with four council members who would serve as an appointing committee. The hire would be an at‑will administrator, with the bill stressing professional qualifications over campaign skills. It sets out minimum credentials and outlines a six‑year term that is meant to preserve institutional knowledge through multiple election cycles, according to Big Island Now.
Supporters Say It Will Stabilize Long‑Term Projects
Kimball and other backers argue that frequent mayoral turnover has stalled work on basics such as parks, roads and wastewater systems, and that a professional manager could take the political heat out of contracting and help steady the county’s finances. They point to long-delayed repairs, including the Papaʻaloa gym and aging sewer infrastructure, as examples of projects that might finally move if guided by continuous, merit-based administration, per Civil Beat.
Opponents Call It A Power Grab
Mayor Kimo Alameda and several wary council members counter that the measure would shift too much executive authority to an unelected official and weaken accountability to voters. “This bill would almost eliminate the role of the mayor as well as important checks and balances,” Alameda said in a statement, as reported by Big Island Now.
Committee Vote And Who Objected
The Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee voted 5-4 to recommend the measure to the full council. Dissenting votes came from Holeka Inaba, Dennis Onishi, James Hustace and Ashley Kierkiewicz. The recommendation now heads to the full nine‑member council and, if approved there, could be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
What’s Next
If the full council signs off on the charter amendment, the final call will belong to voters. The bill text, committee records and meeting schedules are posted on the county’s records site along with instructions for submitting written or verbal testimony. Residents can review the proposal and upcoming hearing dates through the Hawaiʻi County records site.
